Meet Sara! Our 2016-17 South Dakota Champion

Sara’s parents had always dreamed of adopting a child from another country. They were ecstatic to welcome into their family a beautiful, brown-eyed 3-year-old from Nepal. Just as she was settling in, Sara was diagnosed with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a fast-growing cancer. Sara’s parents were devastated for their daughter. She was also fighting a parasite, needed additional physical therapy because she was extremely weak, and didn’t speak English.

They took everything in stride, and throughout 28 months of treatment, Sara began to thrive. She came to love her caregivers, learned English and Chinese simultaneously, and was declared cancer-free in 2013.

Today, Sara is a social butterfly who loves telling stories and dressing in pretty clothes and accessories. Her parents are grateful Sara is healthy and happy, and are hopeful that her check-ups and scans will continue to be clear.

How donations helped Sara at Sanford Children’s Hospital — Sioux Falls:  

CMN Hospitals donations fund the child life and social work programs that were instrumental in Sara’s care. She also benefited from specialized equipment, a cancer survivor camp and special school programs made possible by community donations.