Megan Bugg passes away after lengthy, courageous battle with cancer

COAL CITY– Megan Bugg touched the lives of those around her by fighting not only her own battle with childhood cancer, but ensuring others had the resources, funding, and support to fight as well.

Bugg passed away in her home with her parents on Wednesday night after a seven-year battle with childhood cancer. She was 20.

Megan was diagnosed Dec. 30, 2014, with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cancer after her father, Coal City District 1 Superintendent Kent Bugg, noticed a bump on her arm on Christmas Day. Megan later told her father the bump had been there about five weeks, but she was scared to mention it, according to newspaper articles at the time.

Her fight has been documented through an online blog by her father.

Megan Bugg made her battle about something more than herself, leading marches on Washington, D.C., lobbying legislators, and becoming a featured speaker at numerous events to raise awareness of childhood cancer.

Her efforts did not go unnoticed, she was the 2019 American Red Cross Youth Hero, a Joliet Herald-News “Everyday Hero”, the Grand Marshall of the Grundy County Cornfest Parade and a Morris Herald-News “Woman of the Year.”

Through her efforts she was able to raise $950,000 to fund cancer research projects at Lurie Children’s hospital.

To honor her efforts, the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute is opening the Megan Bugg Global Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Lab. It was Megan’s wish that memorials be sent here.

A public visitation was held for Megan Bugg Saturday in the auditorium of Coal City High School, with a celebration of her life the following day.

Speeches were given by her family and friends, each outlining the way in which they would miss her.

Megan Bugg’s older sister, Mackenzie, shared a heartbreaking letter she wrote for her sister, outlining all of the things she had wished she would have been given the time to say.

“I want to thank you for being my sister first,” Mackenzie said. “Even though you were most known for your childhood cancer advocacy, that wasn’t who you were to me. You were my sister and you were my friend before you were sick. You picked me up when I was sad, let me rant about stupid professors, and FaceTime you Trader Joe hauls, all while you were receiving chemotherapy, getting radiation, or even in the hospital.”