Meet Sharon "Nanny" Nelson

Just three months ago, she was celebrating with family and making memories that would last a lifetime. There were smiles, hugs, and a beautiful wedding. What no one knew was that behind all this was a rare and aggressive cancer already growing. Today, Sharon is facing a fight no one saw coming.

Sharon “Nanny” Nelson was diagnosed in April 2026 with a rare and highly aggressive cancer called Olfactory Neuroblastoma. On April 15th, she underwent an emergency brain surgery that lasted more than 12 hours to remove the tumor. Following surgery, she faced significant complications and spent three and a half weeks in the ICU fighting to recover.

Sharon is currently residing in a skilled nursing facility for the unforeseen future as she works to regain her strength for the next stage of treatment. This includes another surgery that will involve the removal of the cervical lymph nodes on the left side of her neck, where the cancer has unfortunately spread.

This diagnosis and the challenges that followed have come as a sudden and heartbreaking shock to her family. Just three months earlier, in March, she was living a completely different life celebrating the wedding of her eldest granddaughter, completely unaware that she was already battling this devastating disease.

Sharon is a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She has been married to her devoted husband for 56 years and is surrounded by the love of her three daughters and sons-in-law, six wonderful grandchildren, and countless extended family members and friends who are lifting her up with prayers, encouragement, and unwavering support every day.

We are honored to announce Sharon “Nanny” Nelson as one of our recipients for this year’s Blues & BBQ. We hope you’ll consider supporting Sharon and her family during this time and look forward to seeing many of you on June 6th.