Rachel Dembkoski and Hannah Phelan in a Time of Need

Th head-butting that had arisen between a busy, forthright mom and a teen daughter finding her way came to a screeching halt on Fairview Avenue Oct. 16.

That's when the 14-year-old daughter who loves to sing and sew found out that swollen glands that had persisted since June and grew in September stemmed from something other than mononucleosis.

Hannah Phelan was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer from white blood cells. A week later Hannah started chemotherapy, treatment that is scheduled to last six months.

The diagnosis hasn't sunk in, Hannah said on Wednesday, sitting by her mom in the living room of the home they rent.

But the joint, back and foot pain from medication changes and the trying daylong treatments in Boston have sunk in, leaving Hannah drained and needing her mom.

Mom Rachel Dembkoski, 41, is there to help Hannah cope with the pain and changes, like getting a wig after she had her hair cut and donated it to Locks of Love.

Hannah, who has spent her life in Swampscott, has learned to cope with difficulty. She was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome as a young child and, unable to move seamlessly from one activity to another, and struggling with social skills, was subjected to harsh treatment from kids.

But she worked on developing social skills and has several friends. She has an abiding interest in reading, especially mythology, science fiction and fantasy, and has been sewing dolls and dresses and purses since she was a child. 

At 8 or 9 years old she would stay up all night in her room and, in the morning, show her mom the purse she made by hand overnight.

Recently, she made a pillow during a chemo therapy visit.

Now, Rachel helps Hannah stay on schedule with 10 different medications. She drives Hannah to the chemo treatments in Boston.

She makes sure there is dinner and that the Swampscott High freshman is keeping up as best she can with her schoolwork.

Mostly, she is there for her daughter. The distance that was creeping into their relationship evaporated in October.

"She won't let me out of her sight," said Rachel.

In the next half hour Rachel was to drive Hannah to meet her math teacher, Mr, Fucile, who is tutoring Hannah.

And while Hannah is learning math, Rachel, a single mom, was to head out for an hour of work, the first she had been able to work this week.

In the past, Rachel, a high-energy mutli-tasker, has worked fulltime doing billing, scheduling and an array of office management duties.

But now the single mom is devoting almost all her time to Hannah's care.

The help from family and friends who drop off food and check on Hannah's well being are keeping them afloat. 

To that end friends and family have organized a fundraiser and set up an online account to help them with rent and food and heat. So far they have been fortunate with insurance coverage for Hannah's treatment bills.

The fundraiser is Saturday Nov. 9, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Italian Club, 40 Burpee Terrace. 

For more information about the fundraiser or for questions call Sara: 978-979-1804 or Dina: 781-584-9592

To donate online click here. 

A classmate of Hannah's, Matt Moran, has organized a second fundraiser on Nov. 16, from 6-10 p.m. at his father's driving range, Paradise Mini Golf,  at 25 Lonergan Road in Middleton.

Editor's note: The original version of this article did not include Rachel's correct last name. Her name is Rachel Dembkoski.