Meet Arianna – Sarcoma Warrior

“Kendrie and the NCCS were blessings to our little family during the scariest time of our lives, and we will forever be grateful,” shared Elissa, Arianna’s mom.

From the very beginning, Arianna was the beloved daughter of Elissa and Matthew and the baby sister to a proud and loving big brother, Jayden. Her early days were filled with the kind of joy and routine every family hopes for, until, just a few months later, everything began to change. At just 2 months old, Arianna started to get sick, marking the beginning of a journey no family expects.

At first, Arianna’s doctors believed she was dealing with acid reflux. She was given medication, but her symptoms didn’t improve. As the months went by, her condition only worsened. Arianna began having trouble breathing, and over time, her oxygen levels started to drop. Concerned, her parents took her to the emergency room. Imaging showed spots in her lungs, and doctors believed it was pneumonia. Arianna was sent home with antibiotics, but within days, her oxygen levels plummeted. Her parents rushed her back to the emergency room, where more extensive imaging revealed something far more serious: not only was she battling pneumonia, but she also had a tumor on her kidney.

It was just days before Christmas when Arianna’s family had a true diagnosis: she was diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma of the right kidney (CCSK), a rare and aggressive childhood cancer.

Her mom, Elissa, shared, “We were shattered.” From that moment on, life became a whirlwind. Despite the overwhelming diagnosis, Arianna remained “as happy as can be.” For her parents, however, the emotional toll was immense. They were left asking how this could happen, trying to process the unthinkable while making critical decisions for their baby girl’s care.

Arianna’s treatment plan was intense: 28 weeks of chemotherapy paired with radiation, a rigorous schedule that included inpatient hospital stays. But even getting started came with challenges. Insurance delays postponed the beginning of her chemotherapy, adding frustration and fear to an already overwhelming situation. Her parents were desperate to begin treatment as quickly as possible, and when everything was finally resolved, they moved forward with urgency to save their daughter’s life.

Once chemotherapy began, Arianna’s strength quickly became evident. She handled treatment remarkably well in the early stages, even as her family braced for what was ahead. There was a collective sense of relief when scans revealed that the nodules in her lungs were not cancerous, confirming her diagnosis as stage II.

As treatment progressed, Arianna faced the difficult realities of chemotherapy. She experienced multiple inpatient hospitalizations due to neutropenic fevers, a common but serious side effect that left her vulnerable to infection. Each admission brought more worry, disrupting any sense of routine the family tried to build.

In true warrior fashion, Arianna continued to push forward. Even in the midst of treatment, she reached milestone after milestone. She remained physically strong, with no major deficits noted during early evaluations. She learned to crawl, began pulling herself up, and showed a growing eagerness to walk. Aside from her feeding tube and hair loss, her mom shared that Arianna was “acting like a typical baby,” a powerful reminder of her resilience.

At home, the family worked to find balance. Arianna’s dad often stayed with her brother while her mom stayed by her side for every appointment. It wasn’t easy, especially as her brother struggled to adjust to the sudden changes. Over time, they found small ways to help him cope, like turning hospital visits into memorable traditions, complete with Chick-fil-A picnics that brought a sense of comfort and familiarity.

There were weeks filled with unplanned admissions, illness, and recovery. At one point, her immune system weakened to the point that she developed a virus, forcing a temporary pause in her chemotherapy to allow her body to recover. Despite the ups and downs, Arianna never stopped fighting. By April 2025, she had reached the halfway point of her treatment, a milestone that brought both relief and renewed determination.

Finally, in July 2025, Arianna completed her chemotherapy! However, shortly after finishing treatment, she was admitted again due to neutropenia and a cellulitis infection. But even in the hospital, Arianna remained full of energy and spirit.

Three weeks later, she underwent final scans. The waiting was filled with cautious optimism and understandable fear. While previous scans had been clear due to the success of her treatment, her mom knew all too well that there were no guarantees when it came to cancer. Like so many families, they now live with “scanxiety,” the anxiety that comes from each appointment for new scans. The fear of relapse became a new emotional hurdle that many families face even after treatment ends.

But then came the moment they had been holding onto through every challenge. Her scans showed no evidence of disease (NED), and in August of 2025, Arianna proudly rang the bell and has remained NED ever since. She will continue with scans every three months for the next couple of years to ensure she stays healthy.

The milestones kept coming. In the fall of 2025, Arianna graduated from physical and speech therapy, and she also had both her chemotherapy port and feeding tube removed. For the first time in a long time, she was able to spend the holidays at home, walking, running, dancing, and, perhaps most exciting of all, eating normally again.

Despite being diagnosed with cancer, Arianna is thriving. Now a lively toddler, she is active, curious, and full of personality. She loves climbing into her mom’s lap, often reaching for the phone to video chat with her grandma. She is hitting all of her milestones, growing stronger each day, and embracing life with the same joy she’s always had.

At home, healing continues for the entire family. Arianna’s older brother learned to process his sister’s diagnosis through play therapy to help navigate his emotions. Her family is learning to navigate a new normal, one shaped by both the challenges they’ve endured and the gratitude they now carry.

HOW WE HELPED

With support from The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS), including assistance from the Transportation Assistance Fund and connections to additional resources, Arianna’s family was able to focus on what mattered most: her care and healing. Their NCCS case manager also provided a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on, helping to ease the emotional weight.

Elissa shared, “The assistance from the NCSS helped our family with gas to and from appointments to the hospital, helped with food while away from home, as well as other expenses that came along the way. I truly appreciated the follow-up calls from our case manager, Kendrie, because this journey was terrifying and left us feeling detached from the world we were used to. To have the consistency of the same case manager following along with us, it felt like we weren’t completely alone. Kendrie took great notes because when we’d catch up it felt like I was catching a friend up on everything that happened. She seemed genuinely concerned and recalled things I had shared in previous calls together. She provided not only emotional support but logistical support as well. She helped make me aware of other resources that I could consider to assist with my son who was affected more than we thought and experienced some behavioral concerns secondary to the trauma he witnessed when sister was ill. Our case manager also made sure to make me aware of the long-term side effect program that the NCCS has as well. It was great knowing that we have support even beyond the bell. Kendrie and the NCCS were blessings to our little family during the scariest time of our lives, and we will forever be grateful.”

Arianna has a healthy appetite, has gained weight, is sleeping better, and is thriving. She also celebrated her second birthday! Another exciting milestone came in May of 2026 when Arianna returned to daycare and preschool, a moment her family had been eagerly anticipating. While she still has a few lingering concerns, including some hormone-related issues and a weakened immune system, her doctors continue to monitor her closely. For now, Arianna is embracing life as the happy, energetic 2 year-old she was always meant to be.

Arianna’s journey has been anything but easy. It has been filled with unexpected setbacks, emotional highs and lows, and moments of both heartbreak and hope. Yet through every challenge, her strength has never wavered. Her resilience continues to inspire everyone around her, reminding us that even the toughest journeys can lead to extraordinary hope.

#AriStrong

This story was shared in July of 2026.