Small town Kentucky girl battles “The Bad Guy”

AUGUSTA, Ky. (WTVQ)- It’s accompanied by medical terminology like malignant or benign and its mysteries run deep. It goes by many names, the "c" word is one. It comes in many forms and a multitude of severities but for one small-town Kentucky girl, her illness isn’t worthy of an official term. To her, it’s just "The Bad Guy."

"No, she doesn’t like that word so we have come up with, "The Bad Guy" as a way to help her keep coping with it," said Jamie Jett-Hurst.

"What kind of magical powers do you have?"

With less words than actions, 8-year-old Gracie Hurst showed a punch to the face. "The Bad Guy", is small cell carcinoma with a hypercalcemic tumor. It was found in her ovaries in November.

Gracie’s illiness, to quote Gracie, is "The Bad Guy". Doctors say it’s is a challenge to treat.

"When they happen rarely there’s less knowledge of what’s worked before and what hasn’t worked before," said Dr. Joseph Iocono, University of Kentucky Medical Center.

In a town known for a couple names, there’s one that stands out nowadays.

"It’s been pretty good," said Gracie.

That’s how Gracie describes the community she calls home, surrounding her with support since her diagnosis.

"It’s been very overwhelming and it just shows you that there are people out there that truly care," said Jamie, Gracie’s mother.

That’s why it’s not uncommon to see "Fight Like a Gracie Girl" shirts everywhere. But it’s not just t-shirts and ribbons. There’ve been parades, benefits, even a seat on the bench, helping coach the girls’ basketball team.

Gracie’s charge to the team?

"Get to work there are no breaks, you know, so that was her message to the girls and that just kind of reflects her personality and who she is as an individual," said Rebecca Arnold, athletic director at Augusta Independent Schools.

Gracie has a Facebook page you can "like". Find a link to it https://www.facebook.com/fightlikegraciegirl?ref=br_tf.