Julianna (a.k.a. Juju) is always on the go. This 5-year-old is obsessed with Jack Sparrow, loves swimming, bike riding, dancing, baby dolls, dressing up, playing doctor, school, and worship music. She expends her energy at dance and cheer camp and is excited to start gymnastics soon.

Her determined spirit has propelled Juju through the last two years.

The week of Christmas 2021, Juju started to lose her appetite and complained of stomach pain. Several doctor visits and tests followed. On January 14, 2022, she was diagnosed with stage L2 neuroblastoma, meaning the tumor had not spread far from its initial location. Treatment started immediately.

Fortunately, the chemotherapy reduced her tumor by more than 96%.

Fast forward to January 13, 2023, her parents received news that Juju had relapsed. This time, it was stage 3. More chemotherapy followed, along with a 12-hour surgery to resect her tumor, 14 fractions of radiation, and a stem cell harvest. It’s been a long road, but she had her port removed last November. However, scans last December showed an unknown spot on her chest. Due to its location, Juju’s doctors feel a biopsy is too risky. She will have another round of scans in five weeks to assess next steps.

When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, her answer is simple. “I just wanna be a kid.” This is what all kids with cancer deserve!