Karina is the strongest girl I know. She’s recovering from a bone marrow transplant after battling cancer not once, not twice, but three times. It’s heartbreaking to think that the only sign of her most recent relapse was fatigue. Then came a fever, and everything changed. When we went in, we learned that 95% of her white blood cells were leukemia blasts.
She has been through it all—radiation, chemo, surgeries. She has spent a cumulative two years inpatient. As a solo mom, it’s been devastating to watch her miss out on so much of her childhood. We always try to make the best of things, but this last time has been the hardest. She had a year off treatment before relapsing again—a year where she finally got to feel normal, go to school, and do the things she loved. Having to leave it all behind again was crushing.
Despite everything, Karina is such a happy girl. She loves to dance, sing, and act. She finds joy even in the hardest moments, and her spirit shines so brightly. She’s been through more than any child should ever have to face, but she continues to fight with grace and so much heart.
Hope session by Olive and Grace Photography | Facebook | Instagram