Ariel

Ariel was three years old when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Ariel was diagnosed with cancer on June 26, 2016. Ariel went through two and a half years of hard chemotherapy. The treatment caused her to have osteonecrosis in her knees and hips. It was so painful that she stopped walking. She had to learn to walk again and was in Physical Therapy for over a year. Also, she had to have multiple blood transfusions during this time and numerous spinal taps, along with bone marrow biopsies. She spent countless days and nights in the hospital quarantined away from people due to not having an immune system. All this took place before COVID had ever entered our world. Ariel was unable to do everyday toddler things like play outside or ride a bike. Her bones were extremely weak from the osteonecrosis. We did not think she would ever learn to ride a bike or do anything a normal kid her age would do. Ariel is eight years old and two years off chemotherapy. She is riding dirt bikes and racing in the outdoor series. Now, Ariel’s favorite thing to do is ride bikes and play outside! You would never know she went through two and a half years of hard chemotherapy at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Editor’s note: There is hope after a child is diagnosed with cancer.