My 11-year-old old niece, Riley was diagnosed with EHR acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in March 2017. While waiting for test results to come back for what we thought was a simple sickness like strep throat or mono, turned into one of the biggest shocks of our lives.
Riley is such a strong, selfless, caring young lady. Always wanting to help someone, always wanting to help out with some other cause or foundation, and always so positive. Even through this manic fast pace of taking this all in and trying to understand it all, she is still more worried about other people and how THEY are handling this. I know without a doubt that this is just a bump in the road for her. Her spirit and faith, and her purpose in this world is strong and meaningful.
She started a journal the first week in the hospital and her first lines read, "My disease is no match for my love. My disease is no match for my personality. My disease is no match for my heart. Cancer does not define me!"
The fighting spirit in all of you warriors and survivors amaze me every day! One foot in front of the other, deep breaths, and big smiles.