Mara has the most incredible imagination. She loves to read, dance, sing, and perform. She is strong beyond belief. She loves playing tennis and riding her bike. She is a brilliant and loving child and we are so lucky she is ours.
Mara was diagnosed with B-Cell ALL in September 2020. She just finished treatment, on November 17th, 2022. Unexplained fevers were the only symptom that Mara presented with prior to diagnosis.
In her two years of treatment, Mara has had 17 lumbar punctures, endless chemotherapy infusions, several hospitalizations requiring prolonged inpatient stays, has taken hundreds of pills, and had two different medical port placements. She also experienced a seizure as a consequence of a bad reaction to one of her treatments. Mara and our family went through this journey during COVID while we were largely unable to see friends and family. Mara’s cancer diagnosis also came shortly after her younger sister’s first birthday, and Mara’s treatment continued throughout the first years of her little sister’s life.
We never imagined our child would have to endure what Mara has experienced in the past two years. Her cancer diagnosis has altered the entire narrative of our family’s story.
Mara endured the majority of her treatment during COVID, when hospital procedures were adjusted to keep patients safe. As a result, we didn’t have the opportunity to connect with many other children or families during our cancer journey.
Hope Session by Ashley Rogers Photography | Facebook | Instagram