This is our Vaiola...
Vaiola MeleRose Rodoni,
But she loves to go by Lola...
She is STRONG.
She is BRAVE.
She CAN do hard things.
On May, 7 2025 our Lola Bear was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Literally two days after her 7th birthday. The evening of her birthday Lola developed severe leg pain that left her immobile. The following morning she have a running fever of 102 that would go away with Tylenol but return immediately after the dose wore off. A trip to the doctor's that had turned into an ER visit. Where we later learned that she had positive signs of Leukemia and needed to be trasmitted to a children's hospital immediately. Both children's hospitals we more than an hour away. It was now a waiting game to find out which one have an open bed available to recieve her. At midnight she was transferred from Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital to Maynard's Children's Hospital, in Grenville, NC.
She was recieved by an awesome team who moved quickly to get blood work done and scheduling all procedures later that morning. She recieved a bone marrow biopsy and lumbar puncture to confim diagnosis. She also had the placement of her PICC line so that we could start treatment as soon as possible. With everything happening so rapidly Vaiola has since developed severe anxiety of all things medical related.
Every day is a struggle for our girl, but every day, I also get to see how much of a fighter she really is. I see her struggling with taking her meds, with hair loss and all things that come with taking chemo. But she strives to want to be better.
Since her diagnosis Lola has been in therapy and has been learning techniques to help her become more willing to recieve care from her team. It has been an uphill battle, and we are all learning to become #StrongLikeLola. She is whitty, she is spicy, she is loving and just tries everyday to be just a little better than the day before.SHE IS MY HERO. It's so hard to see your child struggle and not be able to take their pain away. But we know, through prayers and and a positive mindset, she can beat this. It's a marathon, not a race!
If you would like to follow along with how Lola's journey is going you can follow us on Instagram at @StrongLikeLola.
#lolabear?
#acutelymphoblasticleukaemia
#itsamarathonnotarace
Thank you for supporting me and the more than 300,000 kids worldwide who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. By sharing the gifts of your time, talent and money with the St. Baldrick's Foundation, you're supporting research to give all kids with cancer a better chance for a cure.
