Ruby had just turned one when she started to get sick and experience fevers along with other symptoms. After visits to her pediatrician and multiple visits to the ER with no answers, we saw our beautiful baby girl deteriorate and felt extremely worried and helpless. She started to lose her appetite and was looking frail. We took her to the ER once again, and she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a fast-growing, aggressive blood cancer.
Ruby was admitted to the hospital. Chemo treatments, blood transfusions, and the hospital quickly became the new normal. Throughout her stay at the hospital, Ruby was always so happy, resilient, always dancing, and talking. In December 2017, Ruby was transferred to UCSF for a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, the donor cells were rejected, and Ruby relapsed. In early January, she was transferred back to Kaiser, where we were told to take Ruby home. The doctors did not know if she would even make it home. We took Ruby home and spent every moment possible making memories and enjoying her presence daily. On April 7, 2018, a few days after her 2nd birthday, Ruby went to heaven. Ruby made an impact and touched so many people. Ruby was and always will be my HERO.
Maria
Family member, caregiver, supporter
