This is Azalea

She is 6 years old

Azalea Coolidge’s battle against Stage 4 High Risk MYCN Amplified Neuroblastoma. (Neuroblastoma develops when normal fetal neuroblasts do not become mature nerve cells, instead they continue to grow and divide.) Azalea was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma childhood cancer at Albany Medical Center in upstate NY March 7, 2017 at the age of two when a 6-inch tumor was detected in her abdomen. It was crushing/encasing her vital organs, arteries, collapsing her lungs and heading for her heart. 

After two rounds of chemotherapy, Azalea was transferred to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC where they specialize in Neuroblastoma. Azalea has gone through many traumatic experiences such as having drainage tubes inserted into her lungs through her side to drain fluid, a twelve-hour surgery to remove her tumor, right adrenal gland and part of her liver, countless blood/platelet transfusions, many rounds of toxic harsh chemotherapy, radiation, painful immunotherapy, experimental trials, complications, near death occurrences and so much more. 

Azalea received clear scans for the first time August 10, 2017, she was considered No Evidence of Disease for a little over a year until she relapsed with a focal spot on her upper right arm October 19, 2018. Thankfully Azalea has achieved clear scans again since December 24, 2018 after undergoing relapse treatment. Azalea has lost her hair a total of three times, she’s grown up in a hospital, she suffers from hearing loss/speech problems and so much more due to the side effects of chemotherapy, her teeth are damaged and she’s missing a few permanent ones. Throughout all of this Azalea never stops smiling, she never loses hope and she never gives up, thanks to God, her wonderful family, her doctors/nurses and all of you. 

Azalea finally finished active treatment in September of 2020 and is now being monitored through scans at MSK every three months. Relapsed Neuroblastoma is extremely hard to cure but through the grace of God Azalea is a miracle. She cannot be considered “CURED” of this disease until she has been clear of cancer for at least five years. She will always suffer from long term side effects of the harsh treatment she’s endured but that’s the price we have to pay for her still being here with us.

Cards can be sent to: 144 McGregor Rd, Gloversville, New York 12078

GoFundMe:  https://gofund.me/7931b0f2

Please follow Azalea’s page:  Azalea’s Fight