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.
