It’s been one year since a living nightmare began for Colorado Springs blues and rock musician Austin Young and his family.

Just after Christmas last year, Young’s 35-weeks pregnant wife, Clairelise Young, was rushed to the hospital after experiencing extreme back pain. The results weren’t good: She had a mass the size of a grapefruit and a half lodged between her right lung and heart and was diagnosed with t-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The baby was immediately born by C-section so Clairelise could begin treatment, which continues a year later.

Family and friends will hold a benefit concert to offset medical bills with the help of local, regional and national blues musicians, including the Springs-based Jake Loggins Band, Denver’s Hazel Miller and Kansas City, Mo., musicians Danielle Nicole and Brandon Miller. “Making a Difference: A Hand Up for Austin Young & Family Benefit” is Sunday at the Buffalo Rose Event Center in Golden, a year to the day since Clairelise gave birth to Isabelle Young. Their first daughter is now 3.

Donations can also be made by emailing musicmtnproductions@gmail.com.

“Clairelise hasn’t been able to do normal things a mom could do, like breast feed,” said Krisanne Young, Austin’s mom. “She’s maybe rocked Belle once.”

After enduring chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant, Clairelise, 30, was cancer-free for four months this summer before it returned in October. After a second round of chemo, doctors hope to do a second stem cell transplant if she’s in remission.

“It’s normally curable,” Krisanne said. “However, she’s in a very rare 10% that it hasn’t been cured with stem cell transplants.”

Austin, 29, a Springs native and Air Academy High School graduate, started performing and touring the country when he was 12. His dad, a drummer, played drums for his son and also for Loggins, who met Austin as a preschooler. He watched him grow up and form the Austin Young Band, which released two albums and performed around the country.

“He used to come to open mics and blues jams I had around town when he was 11 or 12. He’d dress up like Stevie Ray Vaughan and play,” Loggins said. “He’s a good kid with a young family. I have love for the kids and family. It’s heartbreaking what they’re having to go through right now. It’s an opportunity to use playing music to pay it forward.”

Austin and his wife met in high school. They went on to graduate from different colleges, University of Denver for him and University of Colorado Colorado Springs for her, and now live in Highlands Ranch. He works in financial risk management and continues to play locally, though he put his music on hold after his wife’s medical emergency.

“We are walking on a heartbeat,” Krisanne said. “It’s moment by moment. Even within a week things change, and it’s all based on Clairelise and her journey with cancer. Her story has made an impression on people. Her faith is strong and so is Austin’s.”