Fire Rekindled In Ohio 4-Year-Old Marking One Year Cancer-Free

Cleveland OH

14 March, 2021

4:52 PM

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ADA, OH — At four years old, Azraella Parker has made the absolute most of the last 365 days. "Azzy," who lives in Ada with her family, has visited museums and zoos. She went on vacation. She made tons of friends, mother Keara Downing told Patch. She attended preschool and she can't wait to go to kindergarten this fall. But being a kid wasn't always possible. On March 5, Azzy celebrated one year cancer-free. The little girl was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2017 when she was just 15 months old. "Within about a week span she went from almost running to not wanting to even sit and was crying a lot," Downing told Patch. "By the night of her diagnosis, she was pale and bruising by just being touched. It was all just terrible." For more than three years, Azzy endured chemotherapy and countless surgeries, spinal taps, and medications, her mother said, adding the family "basically lived in the hospital" during that time. But on March 5, 2020, Azzy was the first to ring the new "Rope for Hope" bell at Mercy Children's Hospital in Toledo. Today, she remains cancer-free and has "rekindled her fire" eclipsed by the disease. "Her counts have been amazing," Downing said. "No signs of relapse thus far." The last year for Azzy would not have been possible without the outpouring of support she and her family received from the little girl's medical team, family, friends and even strangers, Downing said. "Everyone reached out to donate things, money, essentials — every single thing seriously helped lift our stress and our spirits," Downing said. As her daughter prepares to start kindergarten, Downing told Patch she hopes other families going through a similar experience know they're not alone. She also encouraged others not to be afraid to ask for help. "Even though you may feel alone, there's a huge support system behind you praying, sending love and things you need," Downing said. "Never give up hope."