VIDALIA — Nearly 10 years ago Paige Welch awoke paralyzed from the waist down.

The 15 year old didn’t know it at the time, but without treatment for the Burkitt’s lymphoma tumor rapidly growing on her spine, she might live only two weeks.

Less than a week after entering Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson, Welch had been diagnosed, undergone emergency surgery to remove the tumor and begun chemotherapy.

The 13-inch tumor had tripled in size overnight, and even with treatment, Welch had less than a 75 percent chance of surviving.

But in two months, she was in remission.

As one of the fastest growing lymphomas, the tumor could very easily return.

It was a huge milestone to make it to five years in remission.

Now 25, the Vidalia native will celebrate 10 cancer-free years on April 5.

To thank Batson for saving her life, Welch is hosting her second annual Band-Aids for Batson drive.

Last year, 541 boxes of Band-Aids were donated, and this year, Welch is hoping for 1,000 boxes. Delta Bank has agreed to match the number of boxes donated.

“The hospital does thousands of finger sticks a day, and Band-Aids are something they definitely need,” Welch said. “We like to get the children’s Band-Aids with smiley faces and cartoons because it brings a smile to the faces of the kids.”

And in celebration of being cancer free for a decade, Welch is participating in the Over the Edge with Friends fundraiser for the hospital April 16.

Participants must raise a minimum of $1,000, and those who do will rappel down the side of the 14-story Trustmark Corporate Office building.

“To celebrate 10 years, I thought I might as well do something a little crazy and out of the ordinary,” Welch said.

Welch wanted to do more than just say “thank you” to Batson for saving her life, a life she was able to join with her husband Mark’s in May 2015.

“We wake every morning and thank God I am here, but it’s really hard to thank a hospital,” Welch said. “It’s really hard to ask someone to just write a check for $5,000 to Batson. But a box of Band-Aids, you can go to the dollar store and load up on those.”

Band-Aid donations may be dropped off at any Delta Bank location in Natchez, Vidalia, Ferriday, Lake Providence and Tallulah, Reed Insurance, Lazarus Arts and Rivergate Bowl.

To donate to Over the Edge with Friends, contact Welch at 318-719-5415 or sstaggs002@ymail.com, or visit firstgiving.com/fundraiser/paige-welch-2/over-the-edge-ms.com.

Welch is the daughter of Suzanne Lazarus Staggs and Billy Staggs Jr.