Thank you for the opportunity to share Viviana's story! Viviana was diagnosed in February 2020 after we went in for a check-up because she was sick with a slight fever and a cough. For a while, we had noticed her stomach had gotten a bit larger than normal, but her doctor had taken X-rays in September 2019 and attributed it to constipation. She had also lost a bit of weight and was rather pale. Unfortunately, as we found out later, the stomach grew to accommodate a very enlarged spleen. In retrospect, I wish we had pushed for a more involved investigation. We were immediately referred to Stormont Vail in Topeka and Viviana was admitted to the PICU. We spent the next week experiencing a vast array of emotions. She received exemplary care and once a diagnosis was established and a treatment plan was set into place, we were able to return home. Through it all, Viviana proved to be the strongest, the most optimistic and the most resilient! She is a very bright and observant nine year old, so we have opted to tell her the truth and to keep her informed every step of the way. She never complained and was never scared and asked the best questions! (Wish I could say the same about her parents!)