Carrie Everett made headlines last year when she competed for and earned the title of Miss North Carolina 2024. However, cancer has since taken away her natural crown.
The 21-year-old resident of Auburn, Washington, recently finished her third chemotherapy treatment. To show support for her, her relatives shaved their hair.
Everett handed over the Miss North Carolina crown in June of this year. After a month, she got sick.
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She said to ABC11, “I initially knew something was wrong. I don’t get very sick very often.”
“I started to experience bloating almost instantly. I was coughing. I went to the doctor, and they said I had pneumonia. They initially said there was nothing wrong with my stomach,” she recounted.
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Her symptoms worsened to the point where she coughed up blood a week after the doctors’ X-ray revealed nothing.
“I was told initially that it wasn’t really anything severe, but then I went back a week later, because I just knew something wasn’t right,” Everett told WRAL.
However, after performing a CT scan, they discovered masses on her pelvis. A biopsy revealed a cancer.
“I was shocked. I was also very scared because you hear that word and think of all these stories. I knew my life was going to change,” Everett explained.
She was diagnosed with signet ring cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive type of cancer. She had to learn how to walk again after three weeks in the hospital.
“I was hooked up to machines all the time and wasn’t able to breathe. I had to be on oxygen,” she said.
Mary Everett, her mother, revealed that while the past few months have been challenging, having faith in the Lord has been rewarding.
“The bible says it is better to put your trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. The prognosis wasn’t good. We turn our attention to God,” said Mary.
Everett believes that she can overcome the illness with the support of her family and God. She also hopes that her diagnosis will teach women to speak up for themselves when something doesn’t feel right.
“I’m holding on to God, keeping the faith and attitude of worship and prayer because I believe I’m healed already in Jesus’ name,” Everett said.
At the moment, Everett is taking some time off from her studies at Central University in North Carolina.
Since her mother, who is her primary caregiver, is unable to work, loved ones have even started this GoFundMe to help with the growing medical expenses.
Fortunately, people in North Carolina are supporting Everett after she served the state. The GoFundMe page garnered more than $24,000 in its first 24 hours to assist in paying for her medical treatments, food, travel, medication, and care.
“I’m so blessed to have so many people who felt touched and inspired by my journey and my story, to want to give back to me,” she told WRAL.
She thanked “students who I know don’t have the funds, because I was a student who didn’t have the funds, just strangers who felt the need to give.”
“I’m so blessed to have this amazing support system,” Everett remarked.
Their generosity has motivated Everett to pursue philanthropy.
“After this, I would like to raise funds for people with rare cancers and stand in the gap for them. This is happening for a reason, and God has allowed me to use my voice to give a voice to others,” Everett told WNCN.
She is currently in Seattle receiving chemotherapy and other treatments.
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