When you meet Adalyn, the first thing you notice is her brightness. She may start out shy, but hand her a paintbrush or a piece of chocolate and she lights up. It’s hard to believe that only months ago she was fighting rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue cancer in children.Diagnosed on May 9, 2024, after a tumor was found on her tongue, surgery wasn’t an option. Her care team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) moved quickly with an aggressive plan: 40 weeks of chemotherapy followed by daily proton-beam radiation, each session requiring anesthesia. Treatment was grueling, bringing severe neutropenia, infections, and constant nausea. A flu diagnosis while immunocompromised required support from CHOP’s Critical Care team. At home, life revolved around medications, feeding pumps, and protecting her fragile immune system.Radiation was the hardest stretch. Every morning meant another early drive to CHOP and another anesthesia—an experience no toddler should face repeatedly. Isolation and chronic illness slowed her social development, and her weight dropped dangerously low.But once treatment ended, Adalyn’s spark returned. Today, she’s playful, energetic, and eager to explore again. She loves painting, hiking, animals, “Run-Around!”, and chocolate-dipped croissants. Now off chemotherapy, she is monitored every three months.Adalyn still doesn’t like talking about cancer, but she remembers the moments when she felt cared for. She is shy, sweet, joyful, and endlessly resilient—proof that even the smallest kids can show extraordinary strength.