Isla “the Fierce” Lucks was diagnosed just after her first birthday with metastatic, stage 4, high risk, Neuroblastoma on 7/31/14 and relapsed one year later while still on treatment. She has undergone 9 rounds of chemotherapy, an 11 hour surgical tumor resection, two courses of radiation, Mibg therapy with stem cell rescue, two types of antibody therapy, and a year long neuroblastoma vaccine protocol at MSKCC.

Near the end of her vaccine protocol, she was diagnosed with a secondary cancer, Myelodysplastic Syndrome. After monitoring her bone marrow briefly, it began to progress and she underwent an extensive preparation for a bone marrow transplant to treat the MDS. However, when she was admitted for transplant, it had miraculously begun to resolve on its own and transplant was put on hold! Four years later, she is still free of leukemia. 

This past May Isla celebrated her 9th birthday and 5 years free of neuroblastoma!

She continues to deal with long term side effects. Currently she is managing a leg length discrepancy, resulting from damage to the growth plate in her leg from radiation, which she will need multiple surgeries for as shegrows. Through all of this, she continues to dance! Her love and passion for dance has been incredible for the physical and psychological effects of treatment.