For the past three years, Thomas Doty has been fighting for his life. In late 2009, when the teenager from Washington state should have been enjoying life, Doty was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

It's a condition that took an even worse turn thanks to a cruel prank.

Doty and his family have also had to deal with being the unfortunate victims of a hoax perpetrated by a woman who fooled them into believing that she would help pay his medical bills.

Who could do such a thing? And why?

It turns out that 'Deadlist Catch' star Johnathan Hillstrand, who happens to be a friend of the family, played a big part in all of this happening. Hillstrand decided to use his celebrity to help raise funds for Thomas and put a video online. After the video was posted, the family received an email from a woman named Jonnica Ellis who claimed that she would be sending the family a check for $250,000 to cover Doty's treatment. She even sent flowers and a get well card that said:

Just a little something to make you smile. Things will get better for you and your family, you have my word and promise. Keep your head up sweetie!

Despite having faith that she would come through, Ellis supplied the family with a series of different excuses, all the while promising that the money was coming. The Doty family has yet to see one dollar.

Tiffany Doty, Thomas's mother, said that the woman who did this is "a very sick person."

"I think she should be ashamed of herself," said Doty. "I hope that somebody finds out who she really is so she can't continue. Who knows how many other people she's done this to?"

Under a section labeled "Heartless Hoax" on Doty's website -- where you can also donate to the cause -- Tiffany Doty wrote, "I don't understand how someone could be so cruel and heartless, preying on an innocent cancer victim fighting for his life!"

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