Skip to content
NOWCAST KSBW Action News 8 at 11 pm
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Sacramento teen Sammie Dacong, who helped other sick kids, dies from cancer

Her dying wish was to help grant wishes for other kids

Sacramento teen Sammie Dacong, who helped other sick kids, dies from cancer

Her dying wish was to help grant wishes for other kids

TEEN WITH TERMINAL CANCER IS ASKING FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING HER DYING WISH COME TRUE. >> I FOUND OUT I HAVE TERMINAL CANCER NOW AND MY LAST REQUEST IS TO GRANT ANOTHER WISH FOR A CHILD BEFORE I PASS AWAY. EDIE: SHE HAS A STRONG SPIRIT. SAMANTHA DACONG, WHO GOES BY SAMMIE, IS ONLY 18-YEARS-OLD BUT SHE IS BATTLING CANCER FOR THE SECOND TIME. AS A CHILD SHE BEAT A RARE FORM OF CANCER AND WAS A MAKE-A-WISH KID. SINCE THEN SHE HAS BEEN AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE ORGANIZATION RAISING MONEY AND HELPING GRANT OTHER WISHES FOR SICK CHILDREN. BUT LATE LAST YEAR SHE WAS DIAGNOSED AGAIN WITH CANCER, THIS TIME IT IS TERMINAL. HER ONLY GOAL NOW IS TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO GRANT ANOTHER WISH FOR A CHILD. GULSTAN: TONIGHT THERE WAS A DRIVE-BY CELEBRATION IN HER HONOR NEAR FAIRYTALE TOWN IN SACRAMENTO’S LAND PAR HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND EVEN SACRAMENTO POLICE SHOWED UP TO SHOW HER HOW MUCH SHE IS LOVED. I REALIZE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY CHILD OUT THERE DOING WITH THIS. THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE. GULSTAN: TONIGHT, THEY PINNED HER WHICH MADE HER AN OFFICIAL EMPLOYEE AND IS HER DREAM JOB. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE, THERE IS A WAY TO DO THAT, MAWCA NC.COM/SAMMI
Advertisement
Sacramento teen Sammie Dacong, who helped other sick kids, dies from cancer

Her dying wish was to help grant wishes for other kids

A Sacramento teen with terminal cancer who strived to help other sick children achieve their wishes has died. Samantha "Sammie" Dacong died surrounded by family in Sacramento Thursday evening. "Our hearts are heavy today. Our sister, Sammie Dacong, has gone home to God," St. Francis High School, where Sammie was a student, wrote in a message on Facebook. "She embodied what it means to be an SF Troubadour. Her leadership and service shone through even as she bravely battled cancer. As an ambassador for Make-a-Wish, she has made granting the wishes of other sick kids possible."Sammie was only 18 years old, but was battling cancer for the second time. In her final months alive she said, "I found out I have terminal cancer now and my last request is to grant another wish for a child before I pass away." As a child, Sammie beat a rare form of cancer and was a Make-A-Wish kid. She then became an ambassador for the organization, raising money and helping grant other wishes for sick children.Late last year she was diagnosed again with cancer. In May, Make-A-Wish made Sammie an official employee, which was her dream job. She used her last days alive to once again bring attention to the other kids battling cancer."I realize that I'm not the only child dealing with this, I realize there's more people that that need support," Sammie had told KCRA 3. Before her death, she helped raise $128,000 for 13 other children. Her goal was $165,000 in order to become the number one Wish family fundraiser. If you would like to donate in Sammie's honor to help her reach her goal and help make more wishes come true for sick children, you can visit her fundraising page here. --KCRA 3's Daniel Macht contributed to this story.

A Sacramento teen with terminal cancer who strived to help other sick children achieve their wishes has died.

Samantha "Sammie" Dacong died surrounded by family in Sacramento Thursday evening.

Advertisement

"Our hearts are heavy today. Our sister, Sammie Dacong, has gone home to God," St. Francis High School, where Sammie was a student, wrote in a message on Facebook. "She embodied what it means to be an SF Troubadour. Her leadership and service shone through even as she bravely battled cancer. As an ambassador for Make-a-Wish, she has made granting the wishes of other sick kids possible."

This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Sammie was only 18 years old, but was battling cancer for the second time.

In her final months alive she said, "I found out I have terminal cancer now and my last request is to grant another wish for a child before I pass away."

As a child, Sammie beat a rare form of cancer and was a Make-A-Wish kid. She then became an ambassador for the organization, raising money and helping grant other wishes for sick children.

Late last year she was diagnosed again with cancer. In May, Make-A-Wish made Sammie an official employee, which was her dream job.

She used her last days alive to once again bring attention to the other kids battling cancer.

"I realize that I'm not the only child dealing with this, I realize there's more people that that need support," Sammie had told KCRA 3.

Before her death, she helped raise $128,000 for 13 other children. Her goal was $165,000 in order to become the number one Wish family fundraiser.

If you would like to donate in Sammie's honor to help her reach her goal and help make more wishes come true for sick children, you can visit her fundraising page here.

--KCRA 3's Daniel Macht contributed to this story.