As many people may know my beautiful daughter Arianna aka Cherry, and our family as Fight Like Cherry on TikTok, YouTube recently, and Instagram. My daughter Arianna was diagnosed with Medullblastoma on May 12, 2021. Medullblastoma is a Tumor in the Brain. Everyone’s diagnosis is different even if they are diagnosed with the same Medullblastoma. There are different grades, types, etc. Medullblastoma is Brain Cancer. My daughter Arianna was 6 years old when she was first diagnosed, she is now 8 years old, but don’t let the 8 year old part trick you. She is the strongest, bravest, gorgeous, most amazing girl I have ever met, and I’m not just saying that because I’m her mother. She has a port in her chest, and she has gone through so many things. So many procedures, pokes, ouches, etc, I wouldn’t hope on my worst enemy. It’s horrible stuff. Childrens should be immune to not getting Cancer, but in fact Childhood Cancer is NOT rare! I didn’t know that until I became a Mom of a Child Warrior that has Cancer. Arianna has Brain Surgery 3 days after her diagnosis. After that we (myself and Arianna) stayed in the hospital for 2 months while Arianna recovered. At this time my aunt was amazing and watched Romeo, and brought him for visits. She developed something called Posterior Fossa Syndrome. So her whole left side was very weak, still is, but she’s getting stronger day by day 💪🏼
Her Treatment Plan would be to start Radiation ASAP, and do that for 6 weeks M-F 6am, Chemo ASAP as well, as well as OT and PT.
We would go on a Abulance from one Hospital to another for Radiation, since our Hospital didn’t have the Radiation Machine. The other Hospital is right next door (no joke, right next door) to ours, but since she’s a patient, that’s how it had to be done. She liked going to the Hospital in the Abulance, but coming back to our Hosptial was a different story. She has to be put under anesthesia every time, and the anesthesia made her very grump. She didn’t want a pulse ox, she didn’t want a arm hug, she was very mad every time 😢. I could tell and I definitely could relate. A lot was happening for me, so I knew she was overwhelmed. I was having panic attacks, and a lot of anxiety. I (Ariannas mom) fainted right after her 1st Radiation session. It was a mess, but it was a lot on me as a single mom. It was overwhelming, exhausting, I didn’t get one day home, I had to go feed my cat every night, but no complaints because my daughter has it worse. I was so worried about her loosing her hair. I know it’s small, but she loved it so much.
Arianna had a NG Tube placed a couple days after her surgery. She had no appetite and she didn’t want to eat or drink anything, which was causing her to loose a lot of weight and not get her medications. Fortunately with her NG tube we got her meds down, but with the irritation of the tube in her throat, she would throw up her NG Tube almost every day. The team would give her a break to try to eat, but it didn’t happen. She would scream so much and cry when another NG Tube was placed, which made my mommy heart absolutely break. I tried to hold it in but I broke down every single night in the bathroom.

Next steps was she started Radiation, Physically Therapy (PT), and Occupational Therapy (OT) while admitted in the Hospital. After her 3rd Radiation and 1st Chemo Ariannas hair started to fall out a little bit. I tried to braid it but with laying down, the Radiation Mask, and everything it got very matted, so I cut the matted part off. The very next day her hair was basically coming out in chunks. Arianna cried so hard, it was the first time her hair fell out, but sadly it wouldn’t be the last.

In October 2021 Ariannas Oncology Team and I decided it would be the best move to have Arianna get a GTube. At this point she was loosing so much weight. Nothing was helping with the NG Tube. With the GTube she’s unable to throw up up, which was amazing news, she wouldn’t be able to taste the medications or her feed/nutrition, which again was awesome. It would be another Surgery, but the good out weighed the bad by huge amount. So she ended up having a GTube Surgery. It was a over night stay in the Hospital, so they could watch her. Make sure she tolerated her feed, and placement, etc. The next day my Champ did AMAZING!!! She was sore, but not nearly as bad as I anticipated. A couple weeks to heal, and she was doing so good with tolerating her medications and her feeds as well.

A little bit about Ariannas home life. Arianna lives with myself (mom), big brother Romeo who is 13 years old, and our long haired black cat named Flounder. We adopted him a 2 years before Covid from PetSmart and it was the best decision for all of us. He loves love so much, enjoys cuddle sessions, belly and under the chin rubs, last but certainly not least he loves food. (Who doesn’t right?! I know I do ☺️) Flounder runs to the food bowl and meows 3 hours before feeding time, but it’s ok, he’s so adorable it’s cute. We live in Colorado. We were all born and raised here, even all born at the same Hospital. Saint Joseph’s Downtown Denver. We love spending time as a family because life is so precious, it can change at any moment. We like to go Tubbing at Boulder Creek, go to DIA and ice skate, Visit my aunt down in Denver and my dad up in Morrison. We took a Trip to New York a couple years ago as a family. It was amazing. My aunt took Romeo to Wrestle Mania, and I took Arianna to the American Girl Doll Store. She got her hair braided, bought doll clothes, had lunch in the Cafe, and Walked around New York City.

Jump to today,
Arianna is currently on her 7th Cycle of Chemo. She completed Radiation in November of 2021. She has inpatient Chemo every 4 weeks, and weekly Vincristine Chemo in Clinic in the Hospital. Clinic is just what we call the 7th Floor Cancer/Blood Disorders Clinic for short. Arianna also goes to OT and PT twice a week at the Hospital. She developed a very stubborn Granuloma on her GTube which has been very painful, She has had the Silver Nitrate Cream more then a couple times on there, which is very painful for Arianna, but it helps get rid of the Granuloma. She’s gained some weight back, not as much as we would like, but that takes time. Arianna has lost her hair 4 times now, and every time doesn’t get easier. I wish I could say it does. If you would like to follow along on the Journey we would love to have you… 🎗💛❤️