Ariana’s Story: Joy, Strength and the Power of Taking It Day by Day
When you meet Ariana, the first thing you notice is her bright spirit. At just 6 years old, she loved nothing more than playing with her cats and taking afternoon walks with her family in the Coachella Valley. As the youngest of three, Ariana was a happy, healthy little girl whose days were filled with simple joys. But in early 2023, everything suddenly changed.
When Something Wasn’t Right
Ariana’s medical journey began with unexplained stomach pain in February 2023. Soon after, she developed fevers that seemed to come out of nowhere. Her family searched for answers, visiting four different hospitals, yet each time they were told she was constipated. As the pain continued and their concern grew, they traveled to Mexicali, hoping someone would finally be able to explain what was happening.
There, doctors recognized that something far more serious was going on.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
In March 2023, Ariana was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a diagnosis that changed the course of her life and her family’s in an instant.
Ariana was admitted for three weeks as her medical team moved quickly to begin treatment. After being discharged, she returned for a bone marrow test, but her family then learned she had not yet cleared and would need stronger, more intensive therapy. What followed was a long and difficult road, one that would require extraordinary strength from a very young child and the people who loved her most.
Finding Support at the Peckham Center
The family stayed locally while Ariana received care at Rady Children’s Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, where she was cared for by what her family describes as an incredible team. For two and a half years, Ariana and her loved ones navigated the ups and downs of childhood cancer treatment. Through it all, the Peckham Center team was “always very attentive” and a constant source of support.
In the middle of so much uncertainty, that compassion made a lasting difference. Ariana’s family found comfort in knowing they were surrounded by people who not only understood the medical challenges she was facing, but who also cared deeply about helping her and her family through each step of the journey.
Holding Onto Joy
Even during intense treatment, Ariana found ways to keep being a kid. Child life specialists at Rady Children’s played a big part in that. Through activities, play sessions and creative distractions, they helped Ariana stay engaged, happy and emotionally supported, reminding her that she was still a child first, even in the middle of cancer treatment.
Her family says those moments helped lift her spirits and made the long journey a little easier. In a time filled with hospital visits, procedures and uncertainty, those small moments of play and connection mattered in a big way.
Life After Treatment
Now, having completed treatment, Ariana is doing great. Her family beams with pride as they watch her return to the things she loves most, including afternoon walks, time with her cats and simply being a kid again.
After everything she has been through, those everyday moments feel even more meaningful. Ariana’s story is one of perseverance, love and the quiet courage that carries families forward, one day at a time.
A Message for Other Families
If Ariana and her parents could share anything with families just beginning their own medical journey, it would be this:
“Take it day by day. Even when it feels like there’s no end in sight, keep going.”