Alivia was diagnosed with Lymphoblastic Lymphoma on July 13, 2007. The first sign appeared as a small bump on the top of her head. Her pediatrician thought it was a spider bite that would go away in a week or two but when it started growing, we decided to take her to a dermatologist. The dermatologist told us that it was a cyst and said it wouldn’t get any larger. After it had tripled in size, we wanted it removed. The surgeon suggested that it was a ruptured cyst, and schedule Alivia for surgery. During surgery he decided to take a biopsy of it after seeing that it was something else. Two days later, we were confirmed of a parent's worst nightmare...our child had cancer. She showed no signs at all of being sick and what her body was going through except that bump on her head that grew to the size of approx 1/3 the size of a golf ball. Shortly after that, Alivia underwent surgery again to place a mediport under her skin that would be accessed on a regular basis to administer all of her chemotherapy and other medications. Her treatment plan lasted for the next 24 months with her losing all of her hair twice along the way. Despite her very limited immune system and exhaustion at times, she was still a very bright spirited little girl who loved to play and wouldn’t let it get her down. We have met some wonderful families along the way that were dealing with the same fears and hopeful wishes of their children defeating their battle with cancer too. Unfortunately several of those children lost their battles and went on to a place where they will never have to deal with the pain and sickness anymore. Alivia has been out of treatment for 12 years now and is cancer free and doing great!!! She is now in the post 5 year survivorship program and goes to the clinic once every year for routine blood work & and checkup and will have to continue this for the rest of her life. She is currently in 11th grade and loves school, reading, drawing and spending time with her friends & little brother, Jacob. We are so blessed and thankful that Alivia was given a second chance in life. We are very grateful for organizations like St.Baldrick’s that help fund childhood cancer research so that children like Alivia can have a second chance also.