Get information about COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and visiting standards. Learn More.

Beating cancer: RaZyia’s healing journey

RaZyia was just 5 years old when she began complaining of leg pain so intense she couldn’t walk on it or even sleep. Concerned, RaZyia’s mom, Aminga, took her to the Children’s Minnesota St. Paul emergency department. After a day in the hospital, the doctor sat down with RaZyia and Aminga and shared the devastating news — “We think it’s cancer.”

RaZyia was immediately admitted to Children’s and began treatment for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. But the treatment process wasn’t just medical.

A cancer diagnosis is devastating to the entire family. That’s why we care for our patient’s parents and siblings, too. Through things like our Cancer Kids Fund, child life professionals, our in-house entertainment—Star Studio, and our family resource center, we help make a family’s journey a little easier.

“My daughter loves Star Studio,” said Aminga. “She loves The Dude.” Star Studio is Children’s TV studio – offering programming on both hospital campuses hosted by characters like “The Dude.” Star Studio provides positive, memorable experiences, including special guests and games, 24 hours a day.

RaZyia was a patient at Children’s four days a week, every other week, which meant she and Aminga got to know her nurses, doctors, child life specialists and social workers well. “They are wonderful,” Aminga said. “They listen to what I have to say, they listen to RaZyia.”

Today, RaZyia is in remission and returns to Children’s for maintenance chemotherapy. Thanks to the treatment she receives at Children’s, she is back in school as a happy, active 6-year-old.

More news stories

Children’s Minnesota injury prevention manager honored for making child seat safety accessible

Dex Tuttle, injury prevention program manager at Children’s Minnesota, received the Child Passenger Safety Star award from Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths (TZD), the state’s traffic

...
Much of what you hear about essential health care for transgender and gender-diverse youth doesn’t line up with reality. Here are six essential facts about this life-saving care.
There are many myths surrounding essential health care for transgender youth. Here are six things you should know about this life-saving care from Dr. Kade Goepferd, chief education officer and...
Children’s Minnesota tiniest babies celebrate their first Halloween in style

The tiniest babies at Children’s Minnesota dressed up in costume for their first Halloween. Babies in the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) across the metro

...