SPOKANE, Wash. – Just before Christmas, one-year-old Alaura Scott was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. This week, she underwent her first round of chemotherapy in Seattle, where she and her parents will likely need to stay for a year, leaving the rest of their family behind in Lapwai, Idaho.
“It was early morning of the 23 that we found out there was a mass, and it was most likely cancerous,” Alaura’s Aunt Kayeloni Scott said.
In just a matter of days, Alaura’s life and her family’s turned upside down when a nagging pain turned into something much more serious. On December 20, the baby girl started to feel pain in her head; her parents took her to the hospital, where she eventually was life-flighted to Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle.
“Your mind immediately goes to the worst; those types of things aren’t supposed to happen to a baby,” Scott said.
On the 23, test results came through. Alaura was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, commonly known as LCH, a rare form of cancer found in children. You can either be at low-risk or high-risk of this disease, and unfortunately, Alaura is at high-risk; however, her aunt said there is an 80% success rate in beating the disease after treatment.
“The good news is, it is treatable, and it’s had high success rates with other patients so we’re hopeful Alaura will see the same result,” Scott said.
Her first round of chemo was completed this week, and treatment will likely continue for the next year. Alaura turns two on January 26, she will likely be spending her second birthday in the hospital.
Aside from the disease and chemo, Alaura’s family beams at the thought of her.
“Oh, my goodness, this little girl is spunky, adventurous, she’s a risk taker. So engaged, and compassionate with everyone, caring,” Scott said. “With Alaura being so young she doesn’t fully understand what she’s going through, and she’s over there wiping her mom’s tears. That’s the kind of little girl Alaura is.”
Alaura is the youngest of six siblings, who sadly she and her parents had to leave behind at home in Lapwai when they traveled to Seattle for treatment. Alaura’s brothers and sisters, whose ages range from around seven years old to 18, haven’t seen their sister or parents since December 20.The siblings spent the holidays with their grandparents and luckily, a large and loving extended family. Plus, a supportive community.
The matter of finances is currently overwhelming, after all no one plans for things like this to happen. From medical bills to continued support for their children back in Idaho, Alaura’s parents have their hands full. Yet, Scott said money is the last thing they should have to worry about.
So, relatives and community members have begun rallying together to lend a helping hand, both emotionally and financially.
“Trying to focus on those things that we can help with and try to be there to support and encourage the family as they’re going through this,” Scott said. “Fortunately, they’re able to be there to support each other, because you can imagine how challenging it would be for a single parent to have to navigate their own emotions plus the child’s.”
And you too, can lend a helping hand, if you feel the pull to do so. Scott set up a fundraiser to financially support her niece and her family, as they venture through this unknown and painful chapter of their lives.
You can help by visiting Scott’s Facebook page, just look up Kayeloni Scott – and find her latest post, pinned to her profile, to help.
“Outside of the financial support, continued positive thoughts, and prayers, if that’s something you believe in, we certainly do, we so appreciate every ounce of it,” Scott said.
