When 13-year-old Lauren Blakemore was newly diagnosed with cancer, she heard a sermon at her home church, Southeast Christian in Louisville, Kentucky, and she knew God wanted her to do mission work with cancer kids. She said, "I can give them hope by telling my story."

Lauren's cancer, a primitive neuroectodermal tumor, was rare and aggressive. There are only about 450 cases diagnosed a year, and the tumors invade bones and often lead to amputation. After 14 rounds of chemotherapy and 25 radiation treatments, Lauren's recovery is considered a miracle.

Throughout her battle, Lauren found comfort from a gift she had received before she was born—a blanket. A neighbor named Mildred made a bright, multi-colored quilt as a baby gift for Lauren. This "Miss Mildred" blanket was always Lauren's favorite. She snuggled in it through childhood and then through the nausea, fatigue, and sleepless nights that came with battling cancer.

After Lauren's dad visited a children's cancer ward in India, he returned home to tell her about the kids. Immediately, Lauren began to raise money by speaking at Rotary Club meetings and schools. She wanted every child to have a "Miss Mildred" blanket because "chemotherapy makes you cold all the time."

Thanks to women in Bosnia working at Peace Crafts, a cottage industry started by Southeast missionaries, whom Lauren asked to make the blankets, each child's bed in the cancer ward is now warmed by a "Miss Mildred" blanket.

"When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I knew God had a plan for my life," Lauren said. "This is part of that plan."