For Miranda Lee Parra, childhood cancer crept in the way it usually does—sinister and quiet at first, then suddenly with force. It started with a mild rash and paler skin, but when she wouldn’t touch her birthday cake because of a stomachache, her mom, Justine, knew in her gut it was a sign of something much more serious.
Trusting her instincts, Justine met with a doctor at the hospital where she worked in Nogales, Sonora. Sharing her concerns, the doctor began running tests.
“Everything was coming out relatively normal. Then in August, she had a very noticeable drop in hemoglobin and platelets,” Justine said. Both of those were signs of a serious infection. After a painful lumbar puncture, they had the answer they didn’t want: leukemia.
Miranda’s doctors couldn’t pinpoint the exact type of leukemia, and without knowing the type, any treatment they provided would be risky and less effective. Miranda’s future was uncertain.
Knowing that they needed to give Miranda her best chance, her family packed their bags and traveled to Banner Diamond Children’s Medical Center in Tucson, where resources for diagnosis and treatment were more readily available. Once there, doctors confirmed she had Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), an aggressive blood cancer with survival rates significantly lower than other common childhood cancers.
“It was very hard. Possibly the hardest news in our whole lives,” said Justine. It was especially hard on Miranda’s dad, Alex. “You never, ever expect to get that diagnosis, no matter how close you are to it.”
Miranda would need many months of treatment and a bone marrow transplant. Her parents knew they had to be by her side every step of the way, but home was so far away. How could that possibly work? When a social worker referred them to the Ronald McDonald House, it felt like one of their prayers had been answered.
Justine and Alex already knew about the House from a friend who had stayed there during their own fight with childhood cancer.
“They told us from the beginning that this place was a blessing, and they were right,” Justine said. The House quickly became their ‘home-away-from-home’ where Justine, Alex, Miranda, and sister Megan could support each other through their toughest days.
“When we first arrived here, we were completely lost. We didn’t know anyone in Tucson,” said Justine. “But at the House we’ve been welcomed warmly, with food, lodging, and kindness, even though we don’t speak the same language. It feels safe and peaceful here.”
For Miranda, the House provided an extra layer of security during her sickest days. It was a place that was clean (to keep her safe in her fragile state) but still felt like home. It’s where she found her favorite unicorn stuffed animal that kept her company on the nights in the hospital when mom and dad couldn’t be by her side.
And there was even a full kitchen where her mom could prepare specialized meals for her at any time of the day or night. On good days, she would be glued to her mom’s side, helping her cook.
She was distressingly sick during her first few months of treatment. Her personality faded, she was physically and emotionally drained, and there were times when she nearly lost her battle. During that time, her family found strength with other families staying at the House—families who were going through their own battles and could offer a warm embrace or words of encouragement.
After a few months, Miranda turned a corner and was ready for a bone marrow transplant which would help her produce healthy blood cells. Because family members usually provide the closest match for a child with leukemia, Justine, Alex, and Megan all got tested.
Megan was the closest match, and donating was the easiest decision she ever made.
“For Miranda, I think it was a realization that her sister loves her more than anything else,” said Justine. The night after the transplant, Megan and Miranda shared a bed in their hospital room, comforting each other the way only sisters can.
Soon, Miranda’s health started to return. She started getting her energy back and would spend hours playing with Megan in the Center for Adventure playroom or watching movies in the living room. She would enjoy afternoons in the healing garden with her dad. And she would continue to find joy cooking with her mom in the House kitchen.
Miranda entered remission in March after more than seven months in Tucson.
Since then, she and her family have been back to the House for follow-up care visits, and each time she shows a little more of her kind and curious personality. Because for her and her family, the Ronald McDonald House was more than a place to stay, it was a reminder that they could face anything as long as they had each other.
You can bring comfort and hope to families like Miranda’s this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Your gift to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona ensures families stay together, close to care, and close to love.
