A Kennesaw first-grader is fighting back against a painful bone cancer.
Doctors removed 6-year-old Lyris Thomas' femur last year. After six months of chemotherapy, Lyris is back on her feet again.
The Kennesaw Charter first-grade student got her bone cancer diagnosis back in April of last year after her leg wouldn't stop hurting. She spent six of the last eight months in the hospital with her mother and father close by. During that time, depression set in, according to her mother, Adrienne Thomas.
"It's been very difficult. You have your moments where you try to stay positive for the kid's sake," Adrienne Thomas said.
Lyris lost her hair three weeks after her treatments. The family stepped in show support.
"We all made a big ordeal of it and shaved -- Daddy shaved his head, we shaved the baby's head. My niece back home shaved her head…We made a big deal so she wouldn't be uncomfortable," Adrienne Thomas said.
Adrienne Thomas says cancer among children is more common than most people realize and it can create a real hardship on the family finances.
"I almost had to let the business go because I couldn't work. I really couldn't work. So when you are used to having a certain amount of income coming in and now you are down one person, I mean, it got really bad," said Thomas.
Lyris, who is now a Girl Scout, is looking forward to returning to some of favorite activities, such as roller skating and dancing. She will be featured in an upcoming benefit in April benefiting Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's AFLAC Cancer Center.
Black Ties for Cancer will showcase several children with cancer during a gala and fashion show.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:56 AM EDT2013-05-23 04:56:30 GMT
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Lyris Thomas is battling bone cancer.
