I would like to introduce Gessalia to you. Engleston - Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in the Emory area has been her home for the past month and a half. She was only 6 months when she was diagnosed with Leukemia. At 8 months she is in remission and gone through more then any of us adults will endure in this lifetime. But at my visit with her, she didn't cry or whine once. She is a happy baby and if there is pain inside her, she sure did hide it well. But I don't think that is the case here. She is a fighter, a survivor, and a cancer patient. 

Through her first round of chemo she was on a test drug that the FDA was in the process of approving. Anna, Gessalia's mom, believe this test drug helped Gessalia go through remission. She still has 2 more chemo treatments.  Although, she had some adverse effects to the first round. She is taking to the 2nd round quite well. 

These photos are taken on her 2nd round. 

I instantly fell in love with her when I first met. I had a big easter basket in hand just in case she didn't like me. But I was wrong, she took to me and I showered her with kisses even with the chemo IV connected to her. She is, in a sense, a hero to me. 

When I first asked her mom Anna, if I could do this documentary session, I was scared her mom would refuse. There are somethings families want to deal with privately. But luckily - Anna wants to educate people on this terrible cancer called Leukemia. 

Q&A: 

Q: How was Gessalia diagnosed? And how did you and your family handle it?

A: She was a healthy baby with no signs of being ill. One day she was sick and had a swollen eye. It just wan't normal. She had the swollen eye for a while. So I took her into the ER. They weren't quite sure what was wrong. But they knew it wasn't normal. At first they thought it was meningitis. After several test, they had a good clue it was Leukemia. 

I kept asking myself, what did I do to cause this? I must have been a bad mom.  I kept blaming myself. My whole family both my side and her dad's side was devastated but we wanted to remain strong for Gessalia. After we educated ourselves about Leukemia, I was able to stop blaming myself. There was nothing I could do and there are no signs. All I could do now is stay strong for her and help her through this. 

Q: What advice would you give to parents who are going through this?

A: There are different types of leukemia, so please educated yourself on the specific type. There are wonderful doctors out there and medicine that can possibly help. They are developing new test medications everyday and hopefully one day, there will be something that will kill cancer. 

Stay positive for your love ones, be there for them and don't blame yourself.

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