Community rallies around Carmel woman battling cancer and her newborn son
Rita Gonzalez is a dedicated health reporter with a background in public health, holding a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University. She has over 6 years of experience reporting at local health publications and has a passion for making health accessible to all.
More from Rita →
CARMEL Samantha Knapp, her husband Chris, and their newborn son Nico face a difficult road ahead, but with support from family, friends, and their community, they are determined to beat the odds. The 36-year-old Samantha was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer while pregnant, forcing Nico to be delivered more than three months early. The family s ordeal began last summer when Samantha underwent emergency brain surgery to remove a mass that doctors initially hoped was benign. However, she received a devastating diagnosis: Grade 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Since undergoing surgery, Samantha has completed 30 rounds of radiation and continues taking chemotherapy medication. She is also working to regain her mobility and faces ongoing MRI scans as doctors watch her condition. Nico remains in neonatal intensive care, where family friend Filomena Vasapolli said he is “working to grow stronger while his mother continues her own recovery.” Chris Knapp