Because she wants to play
Kaitlyn Sferrazza, age 3½
Kaitlyn had a series of illnesses through the winter of 2004. She ran high fevers, bruised easily, and was pale and lethargic. So by May, when Kaitlyn developed an ear infection, her mother's instinct told her something was seriously wrong. She asked the doctor to do a blood test.
The results confirmed her mother's worst fears. Kaitlyn's blood counts were very low. Tests at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center showed she had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Her mother has kept a photo album documenting Kaitlyn's treatment, including the period when she lost her hair and swelled up from steroids.
Today her hair is back and the swelling is gone, but treatment continues. Kaitlyn takes daily oral chemotherapy. To help the bad-tasting medicine go down, her mother mixes it with ice cream.
Through it all, Kaitlyn hasn't lost her spirit. Her mother describes Kaitlyn as "all girl. She loves to play with makeup and dolls. Her favorite color is pink, and she's very independent about what she wants to wear."
