“We stayed home from church because Tavi was running a fever,” remembers Kimberly Belser speaking of her 5-year-old daughter. The next morning they visited their pediatrician thinking Tavi might be coming down with strep throat. When her fever still wouldn’t break and blood tests showed abnormalities, they were admitted to Batson Children’s Hospital. Kimberly will never forget hearing the diagnosis: acute lymphoblastic leukemia. “Everything else was a blur after that.”

 

The next two and a half years were filled with visits to the Children’s Cancer Center where Tavi bravely fought cancer with friends and family by her side. The Belsers were encouraged not only by the doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff at the hospital, but also by other families going through tough situations. “Once you form those relationships, they stick with you forever,” says Kimberly. Today, Tavi is in remission and she and Kimberly share their message of hope with others to inspire families battling childhood cancer.

 

Tavi is a very smart fifth-grader learning Chinese and Swahili at Adhiambo School.  She is also a science buff who loves to read and play with her American Girl dolls.