Five-year-old De’Meiah (Meme) was in kindergarten when her teacher noticed she wasn’t using her left arm. For her mom, Takia, that small observation set off a medical journey that changed their family forever. When doctors first suggested scoliosis, Takia’s instincts told her something more was going on. She pushed for answers, sought a second opinion, and finally got an MRI. During the scan, Meme had an allergic reaction to the sedation and stopped breathing. A second MRI showed a tumor at the top of Meme’s spine, pressing on the nerve and preventing her from using her arm.
Testing of the tumor revealed that it was not fast-growing, but its location on the spine made its removal impossible. Chemotherapy was the only path forward. Over the past three years, she has reacted well to treatment, but doesn’t like to have her port accessed.
If you spend a few minutes with Meme, you’ll learn she is a diva who loves the camera, dressing up, and the color pink. She’ll dance for you, or she’ll tell you she’s going to be a doctor, a police officer, or a teacher when she grows up. Chemo has made her more home-bound than before. But she’s filled the house with TikTok videos, joyful energy, and a spirit that makes everyone in her life cheer for her. She even worked hard to make the second-grade honor roll.
Behind every child who fights cancer, there is a parent fighting quietly, relentlessly, and sometimes alone. As a single mom, Takia spent the bulk of Meme’s treatment working full-time while getting her to appointments at least twice a week. She recently took a leave of absence so she could be fully present as Meme nears the finish line of her treatment.
Through it all, she has held herself together with intention. She doesn’t cry in front of Meme. She wants her daughter to feed off her strength, not her fear.
“I am her strength,” Takia shared. “I don’t cry when I’m around her. I cry when I’m by myself. But I don’t want her to worry, because she’s the one going through it.”
CURE has walked alongside them every step of the way. For a working single parent navigating treatment, having a team she could count on wasn’t just helpful, it was essential.
“God is good, he has held Meme and me close during this time,” Takia said. “And the CURE team has always been there for us. We felt loved and supported from the day we learned about the tumor.”
On May 14, Meme will ring the bell: a girl who lost the use of her arm and got it back, an honor roll student, and a diva with a bright future ahead. And she will ring it as the daughter of Takia, a mother who never stopped fighting for answers and has stayed strong when it was hardest.
This Mother’s Day, we celebrate them both.
On July 31, 2024, Ripken was officially diagnosed with leukemia. Hannah’s instincts had caught it early, but that didn’t make the diagnosis any less devastating for his family. That’s when CURE stepped in. Their first interaction came through meals in the hospital, a simple gesture that helped lift spirits during the darkest days. But CURE’s impact went far beyond food. They became a constant presence, always around to offer a listening ear or a comforting hug exactly when Hannah needed it most.
Now nearing the completion of their own two years of service with CURE Crew, both boys have become standout leaders within the program. Max and Joe Joe served as Senior Crew Leaders this year, helping guide younger members while continuing to volunteer at CURE events throughout the community.
Her world changed on May 29, 2016, when Addy was just 3½ years old. She was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, but not the most common and treatable type. The overall survival rate for childhood ALL is approximately 90%. But testing revealed that her leukemia was Philadelphia chromosome positive. This rare and aggressive variant required an intense, prolonged treatment plan and carried a much worse prognosis.
Addy’s time here was far too brief, but her impact is immeasurable. In her honor, her family established Addy’s Army Fund at CURE. The fund advances childhood cancer research with a focus on innovative treatments – like precision medicine and immunotherapies that are more effective and less damaging to growing bodies. It also supports quality-of-life programs for children in treatment, resources for siblings silently affected by a loved one’s diagnosis, and bereavement support for grieving families.
“She didn’t suffer from too many side effects until she reached the long-term maintenance phase, which is supposed to be easier,” said Stacy. “She had more hospital stays and a lung infection that was difficult to treat. Going on our wish trip changed everything for her.”
