We first met Sarah and her family by phone. It was one of those first conversations that stays with you. Her parents, Usama and Christine, shared their story with grace, honesty and love, and we feel deeply honored to walk alongside them as their daughter, Sarah, continued treatment for cancer. Sarah is one of four children and lives in Virginia. She is so loved by her incredible family.
“Sarah is our fourth child,” shared her dad, Usama. “She was perfectly healthy since birth — no concerns at all — until a family vacation changed everything. My wife and mother-in-law noticed she looked pale and less energetic. We thought it might be due to teething, but when we took her to the pediatrician, blood tests revealed something we could never have imagined: acute lymphoblastic leukemia.”
At first, the doctors reassured them that this was the “good” kind of leukemia — one that typically responds well to treatment. But Sarah’s disease quickly became complicated and aggressive. She did not respond to chemotherapy and spent the next 11 months in and out of the hospital. She endured countless procedures — spinal taps, bone marrow samples, medications and side effects like high blood pressure.
Her dad shared, “It was painful to watch her go through so much, unable to fully express her discomfort while meeting new doctors and nurses every day.”
Yet even in the hardest moments, Sarah’s light shines. She is a curious, strong-willed and loving little girl — the kind who wants to comfort others even when she’s the one in pain. Nurses say she smiles with her whole face. She loves stacking blocks, singing with her siblings and watching her favorite cartoons. Her laughter fills the hospital halls, and her strength inspires everyone who meets her.
When her doctors recommended CAR T-cell therapy — a treatment that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells — her family regained hope. Two weeks after the treatment, her blood tests were negative for cancer cells. They were overjoyed. But that peace was short-lived; soon after, her tests showed leukemia cells again.
“We were heartbroken and afraid,” her dad said. “Her doctors then advised a stem cell transplant. She was admitted again to Children’s National Hospital for six weeks, receiving chemotherapy, total body irradiation and cranial boosts before her bone marrow transplant. Her brother, George, was her donor. It was the hardest time for her — she developed severe mouth and digestive inflammation, liver enlargement and painful rashes. Yet through it all, she was so strong, supported by her medical team and surrounded by her angels.”
Recently, Sarah’s family relocated separately from her care — a move that has made everything harder. They left behind their community, their home and their routines to make sure Sarah could access the treatment she needed. The transition has been isolating and exhausting, but they remain steadfast, finding moments of joy and gratitude even in uncertainty.
Now, Sarah is home and recovering. Day by day, she grows stronger. She continues to fight leukemia and goes for follow-up visits twice a week. Her family lives with a mix of emotions — fear, hope, and deep faith — trusting that brighter days are ahead.
“We are deeply thankful for the help and support we have received, and continue to receive, from so many organizations walking with families through these unimaginable times,” her dad shared.
And we are deeply thankful for them — for the love they radiate, the hope they hold onto, and for sharing Sarah’s story with all of us.
Sarah and her family need our support now more than ever. Please send this beautiful family lots of love.
