Amanda's Story

Amanda
Age 8
Ewing’s Sarcoma

Children’s National Medical Center

Amanda had just celebrated her second birthday when she went in for a routine X-ray. When she left, things looked anything but routine. Amanda was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma. Doctors were startled by this diagnosis at age 2 because it’s typically associated with teenagers.

There was only treatment option for little Amanda, and it began with six rounds of chemotherapy. In order to battle this dangerous and rare form of cancer, doctors would also need to amputate her left leg. “Her doctor assured us that his main goal was to make sure Amanda outlives us all,” her mother said.

Upon recovering from surgery, Amanda had to go through eight more rounds of chemo. Her loving father slept on the floor next to her bed each night for nearly 18 months, constantly checking on her.

Today, Amanda, 8, is in remission and is always smiling. Thanks to her prosthetic leg, her family can barely keep up with her. She has a fighting spirit that made her a survivor, and she lives life to the fullest by singing, dancing and outrunning many of her friends in school.