Community Celebration in Brighton to Support Girl Battling Cancer

Described as a “sweet girl with a sweet spirit,” Abrielle Fountaine, is also a brave 6-year-old little girl fighting a battle against cancer.

On Nov. 1, a Community Celebration to Benefit Abby will take place at the Tamarack Ranch, 395 N. Old US 23 in Brighton from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The community is invited to attend and help support Abby and her family.

What started off as a typical summer vacation filled with bike rides and days spent playing with her three siblings turned serious for Abby starting last August.

“She was out playing and when she came in this one summer’s day, she was very pale,” family friend D’Ann Schneider said. “Tammy (Fountaine) kind of assumed it was dehydration again and said they better get her to the hospital.”

Over the next few days, however, young Abby began to “quickly decline” and she began the fight for her life.

“She went from being normal and healthy to within the first 72 hours in the hospital, she died three times,” Schneider said. 

Schneider said that Abby’s parents credit the doctors at the University of Michigan for saving their daughter’s life as they battled a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

After spending the month of August in the hospital where she celebrated her sixth birthday, Abby is home again with her family but will continue to receive treatments for the next eight months. 

From the "heartbreaking steps" of losing their daughter's hair to a drawer full of medication, Schneider said Tammy and Dougie Fountaine have remained strong throughout the experience while continuing to raise their family and run a full-time business.

“Tammy and Dougie (Fountaine) are just keeping this great positive attitude,” Schneider said. 

With four kids and owners of Dougie’s Disposal and Recycling, the family has been able to "survive the balancing act" with the help of family, friends and their "special" community.

"It's a crazy, busy life and hopefully this fundraiser will help them out with some of those bills," Schneider said. 

Admission for the Community Celebration for Abby is $20 per person and entertainment will be provided by the Rock N Roll band featuring Hartland Township supervisor Bill Fountain. Light refreshments will be available. 

Donations can also be sent to:

Tammy and Dougie Fountaine
Send to 
Attention: Shelly Callan
Re/Max Platinum
11500 Highland Rd
Hartland, MI 48353