Sienna’s Fight Against Rare Pediatric Cancer

Just before Christmas 2024, our world was turned upside down when our sweet and spirited 3-year-old daughter, Sienna, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Wilms tumor—a rare and aggressive kidney cancer that affects fewer than 500 children in the U.S. each year. In Sienna’s case, the cancer had already spread to her lungs and lymph nodes, making her diagnosis even more complex.

Her fight began with an 8+ hour surgery to remove the primary tumor, along with her left kidney and adrenal gland, which could not be preserved. Several affected lymph nodes were also removed, giving her team critical insight into the nature of her disease.

What followed was an intensive year of treatment—more than 36 rounds of chemotherapy, multiple cycles of radiation, and countless transfusions, procedures, and hospital stays at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Through every step, Sienna showed extraordinary courage, humor, and resilience.

This summer, her treatment team felt confident that she had no more active disease. We removed her mediport in early September and Sienna enjoyed three beautiful months off therapy—three months of preschool, playdates, and feeling like a regular child again.

But on November 12th, during her first set of post-treatment scans, we received the devastating news that Sienna’s cancer had relapsed, now appearing in both her lungs and liver. As we approach the one-year mark from her original diagnosis, Sienna is back in treatment fighting for her life. With several cycles of intensive chemotherapy, surgeries, and a transplant planned, we are hopeful that this time we can get “the bad cells” for good. We are endlessly grateful for her extraordinary care team, led by Dr. Michael Ortiz and Talia Sauerhaft, NP, at MSKCC, whose dedication and expertise continue to guide us forward with hope.

Sienna’s Spirit & Strength

Despite everything she is facing, Sienna continues to shine. She is hilariously imaginative, wise beyond her years, and incredibly loving. Her infectious laugh and boundless energy light up every room she enters. As the middle sibling to Georgia (5) and Bennett (1), she adores her big sister, dotes on her baby brother, and keeps us on our toes with her quick wit and enormous heart.

How Your Support Helps

We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, neighbors, and those we have yet to meet but who have been following Sienna’s journey. Your compassion—through messages, meals, care packages, donations, and prayers—has carried us through some of the hardest moments of our lives.

As we continue navigating her treatment, we are also laying the groundwork for a future foundation that will support research and families affected by rare pediatric cancers. All funds raised here will go directly toward this effort, helping ensure that Sienna’s fight contributes to something bigger—more research, more support, and more hope for other children like her.

We are determined to give back to the pediatric rare disease community and to help ensure that more kids receive the chance of survival they deserve.

How You Can Help

Your support—whether through a donation, sharing this page, or simply keeping Sienna in your thoughts—means the world to us. Every contribution, big or small, helps sustain Sienna’s fight and strengthens the growing effort to bring better treatments and brighter futures to children with rare cancers.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us, for Sienna, and for every child fighting this fight.

#SiennaStrong: Standing Up to Rare Pediatric Cancer