Carly the Brave

Carly loves to play outside, play with baby dolls, ride in her daddy’s truck and boss her parents around! But, do not be fooled, she’s much more than your typical girl. She’s a brave, strong, fun-loving and sweet little girl that has been fighting hard since June 2015.

In the summer of 2015, Carly was spending quality vacation time with her family at Lake Lanier when her parents discovered a limp in her walking abilities when they returned from Florida. Worried, her parents took her to see a pediatrician. The pediatrician informed them that although there was nothing wrong with her judging from the x-rays, there was definitely something wrong with her blood test. Her platelets were very low. The pediatrician informed Carly’s parents that she may have leukemia.

After another test and rushing Carly to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, it was confirmed that Carly had leukemia by her pediatric oncology team. A day later, the type of leukemia was identified and it turned out to be Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, the most common type of childhood cancer.

Carly’s life and her parent’s lives were changed forever and Carly immediately began treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. This all occurred when she was a few months shy of two years old. For females, treatment is two and a half years.

After her first round of chemotherapy, Carly still had leukemia cells in her bone marrow and she was moved into a high risk group. Patients in the high risk group undergo more frequent and intensive chemotherapy treatments. Carly has undergone numerous treatments including oral chemotherapy, IV chemotherapy, and spinal taps where chemotherapy drugs are entered into the cerebrospinal fluid. Currently, Carly is sixteen months into treatment and still fighting bravely!

Carly’s parents never expected to be told that Carly had cancer. Cancer changed their lives and cancer will continue to affect many lives until everyone bands together to fight cancer and a cure is found. Carly’s family will stand with those affected by cancer, along with Icing Smiles.

Carly’s beautiful Peppa Pig themed sheet cake was made by Sugar Angel Denise Burgmon with Cakes by Niecy in Georgia. Thank you Denise for all of your hard work and dedication to Icing Smiles and for providing Carly with her 3rd birthday cake. We look forward to seeing more “smiles” from you in the future!