Abbie Boutilier: Basketball Player, Sister, Friend, Caregiver

Abbie’s Unique Connection to the Jimmy V Classic

Before every Longhorns game, Abbie Boutilier looks to the stands for her parents and her twin sister, Paige. December 3 will be no different.

Abbie, a freshman on the University of Texas women’s basketball team, will join her teammates in taking on UConn in the annual Women’s Jimmy V Classic. To Abbie, this game means more than just the score.

“I think to me and my entire family, it means a lot. We’ve always been into research and giving back since it’s been 10 years since she’s been cancer free. I think at this point, it’s how can we give back as a family who have been through so much and share our experiences and help people get through it.”

The Boutilier family was impacted by cancer in ways they couldn’t have imagined. Just days after Abbie and Paige’s fourth birthday, Paige was diagnosed with leukemia. She underwent treatment, but being so young, there was a lot of confusion and anxiety about the unknown.

Three years later, in 2011, the cancer came back. This time, Abbie was old enough to comprehend what was going on.

“We didn’t have any idea of what normal life would be like without cancer [during the first battle]. But, the second time, I remember feeling a lot of fear and anger, especially because I was more upset.”

Throughout the second diagnosis, Abbie did what she could to be there for her sister. They were close then and are still very close now. Abbie served as a caregiver, maybe not in a physical sense, but describes herself as a ‘built-in playmate.’

“We did everything together that we could. We’d build forts if she wasn’t feeling well, we’d do whatever she was feeling up for. I feel like that’s more of my caregiving role.”

There were no doubt hard times during Paige’s battle with cancer, but sometimes even the hardest times have strong memories. No matter what was going on, the sisters always tried to find a way to laugh through it.

One of Abbie’s favorite and funniest memories of her childhood is one that theoretically shouldn’t be ‘funny.’ Paige had started treatment for the second time, and her hair was beginning to fall out. At an emotional time, the sisters chose laughter, and used painters’ tape to get the rest of the hair off her head. They were ok; they were together.

One memory stands out in particular – the Boutilier twins were featured on “Good Morning America” and got to meet Robin Roberts. On the same trip, they saw Justin Bieber in concert. Two lasting experiences as a result of hard times.

“It’s just a really cool memory of where throughout the bad times, cancer can provide you good experiences, too.”

Today, Paige is celebrating being 10 years cancer free. Since her battle, the sisters have proudly shared their stories to inspire hope in others. They also enjoy giving back and are very active in the philanthropic community around their hometown of Dallas, Texas.

On December 3, Abbie will participate in her first Jimmy V Classic at Texas. The Jimmy V Classic annually features matchups of some of the top collegiate programs in the country, uniting teams and the sports community with a spotlight on cancer research. Jim Valvano dedicated his legacy to cancer research through the founding of the V Foundation. Game-changing research continues to this day, saving lives of those impacted by cancer.

Abbie knows research helped Paige in her battle, and she continues to see how research has advanced treatment options for others going through cancer journeys.

“We have a childhood friend who also had cancer around the same time Paige did. He actually has had it four times. It’s just interesting for me to see the research and how it’s gone from when we all started to last year when he was diagnosed for a fourth time.

“There are new options they are still trying to find to help. I definitely see the need to continue [research].”

Every day, the work that scientists are doing moves us closer to Victory Over Cancer®. For Abbie, what that looks like is personal.

“To me, because my cancer experience was pediatrics, I think Victory Over Cancer® would mean that no more children would be diagnosed and that there would be a world where no kids lost their lives or suffered from this awful disease.”