Meet Abby

Abby Valentine was born on December 30, 1993. She attended Hazleton Area High School, where she met her husband, Nick, in the marching band. A lover of music and the finer things in life, Abby played both piano and trumpet, and had a unique design eye that set her apart. Abby always had a heart for helping others. She worked at the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, where she assisted in program planning to support newly diagnosed women with breast cancer.

In 2022, at the age of 28, Abby was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia. The diagnosis completely devastated her and Nick's lives. She courageously endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy and two stem cell transplants, but ultimately, Abby gained her wings in November 2023 due to infectious complications.

Abby was a shining light in this world. She was fierce, radiated love and empathy, and cared for others with unmatched compassion. Her smile could light up any room. In fact, it was the first thing people commented on when they entered her hospital room, and it inspired the name of our nonprofit. Abby lived by the motto, "I can do hard things."

Smiles for Abby will continue to spread that same spirit—helping others find joy through their struggles and inspiring them to remember that, like Abby, they can do hard things.