Kind KoriRae
KoriRae is never seen without a smile on her face. She’s now 14, living in Colorado, and in middle school. She loves to dance and do arts and crafts. Through it all, though, KoriRae is undergoing treatment for her fourth Leukemia relapse.
When KoriRae was only eight months old, her family received news that no family ever wants to hear: KoriRae had cancer. Eventually determined to be a very aggressive form of Leukemia, KoriRae’s family knew they had a long fight ahead of them. Since her initial diagnosis in 2007, KoriRae has relapsed in 2009, 2015, and again in 2017. So far, her entire life has been spent battling Leukemia.
Treatment for Leukemia can vary, as it has in KoriRae’s case. For her relapse in 2009, she received a bone marrow transplant, but most recently she has met the criteria to be a part of a new cancer study designed to help treat aggressive forms of children’s cancer. This clinical trial is taking place at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which is one of the two hospitals KoriRae goes to for treatment, the other one being Children’s Hospital of Colorado. As of now, it is unclear exactly how long KoriRae’s treatment will take, but she continues to travel to Philadelphia every other month.
Though this extensive treatment is exhausting, KoriRae continues to keep smiling. This would not be possible without the support of her mother, Jennifer, and younger sibling, Aristea. Taking it day by day and having each other to lean on, KoriRae’s family is confident they will beat KoriRae’s lifelong fight against cancer.
This article was drafted by Max Cure Foundation Junior Board Member Leah Sarfity.