Ava is an active, imaginative, fun-loving, "spicy" little girl. She is creative and artistic, enjoys soccer, swimming and listening to music, and likes all kinds of animals, especially aquatic animals. The November she was four, she became uncharacteristically tired and lethargic. There were large deep purple bruises up and down her legs, and she had stomach aches that her pediatrician could not find the cause of. During the first weekend of December, Ava kept lying down during gymnastics and she took two naps. The next day, the family picked out a Christmas tree and began decorating it. Ava was, and still is, the type of child who loves projects and will not stop until the project is complete. However, that night she sat down on the couch and said, “Mommy, can we finish this tomorrow?”  

After that, her daddy put her in the bathtub and noticed she looked pale and felt warm. She also had tiny red spots - petechial bruising - on her ear.
 
The next morning, Ava woke with petechia bruising all over her legs.  Her pediatrician saw her first thing that morning and, suspecting leukemia, sent her for labs. She conferred with a pediatric hematologist and called Ava’s parents that evening, telling them to pack for at least five days and take Ava to Maria Fareri Children's Hospital in Westchester, NY, where a bed was waiting for her.  
 
It was a frightening and confusing night for Ava’s parents. They left their 20 month old son with grandparents, not knowing when they would return, and drove an hour through the dark night to Westchester. Ava was admitted as an inpatient at 1:00 am. Later that day, she underwent her first bone marrow aspiration and lumbar puncture. That evening, her parents were given her official diagnosis, Pre B acute lymphoblastic leukemia, pneumonia and an enlarged liver. Ava spent the next 11 days in the hospital.
 
Ava’s treatment for ALL was very prescriptive and involved 6 phases: induction, consolidation, interim maintenance 1, delayed intensification (Ava was very interested in this portion of her treatment and even helped prep the medication herself), interim maintenance 2 and the maintenance phase.
 
For the maintenance phase, Ava was a participant in a study and was randomized to one of 4 groups.  Her family often says she was one of the lucky children because the children in her arm of the study received the smallest amount of chemo and steroids.  However, sometimes they also worry that she may not have received enough.  
 
Ava completed treatment on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2014 with her last dose of oral chemotherapy…and a private dance party that included just the four members of her family.    
 
Her mom’s greatest hope for Ava is that she grows up to be happy with the fortune of good health, so she can pursue her dream of becoming a dolphin trainer....or whatever else she dreams of as she grows older. Her cancer journey has changed Ava and her family. Ava is open about her experiences and uses them to assist others through their trying medical times.  She is the first person to offer comfort to someone who is hurt and looks for ways in which to make them feel better.  Strong-willed and determined, with a shy and timid side, Ava is now 6 and loves to play with her friends, cuddle with her parents and have fun with her younger brother.
 
Quotes: “You don't have to worry about me Daddy.  I'll be okay."  "Don't complain, Papa, it only makes things worse."
 
Information provided by MaryEllen Trocino, Ava’s Mother
August 2014

Update! Ava is doing exceptionally well!  She was deemed cured on August 29, 2017!  Ava has been healthy over the past few years. This past spring and summer, she underwent multiple medical exams, tests, and evaluations to gain a new baseline to determine if she has endured any long-term effects.  So far, everything looks great!  We are still awaiting the results of her neuropsychological testing. She suffers from anxiety, at times, but we are working on that.  Overall, she is doing well. She is very kind, athletic and social.

Updated by Ava's mom, MaryEllen, in September 2018

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