For many kids, taking photos on the first and last days of school allows them to see how much they’ve grown. For 7-year-old Sophi Eber, the photos let her also see how far she’s come in her battle with cancer.
On Sophi’s last day of first grade, her teacher took a photo of the 7-year-old holding up a photo that showed her on her first day of the school year. In the first photo, Sophi has no hair and no eyebrows and has a tube in her nose. In the newer photo, she has a full head of hair and is tube-free. That’s because this school year, Sophi has been recovering after being declared cancer-free.
Sophi was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma in February 2016. Her mother, Bethany Eber, told HuffPost that throughout her cancer journey Sophi has had six rounds of chemo, 14 rounds of radiation, a nine-hour surgery to remove a tumor and five rounds of immunotherapy. Doctors declared Sophi was cancer-free on July 10, 2016. She is currently in a clinical trial receiving a series of shots that act as a vaccine to help her body continue to ward off the cancer. Because Sophi’s chance of relapse is high, she flies from Kansas City, Missouri, to New York City every three months for scans.
“Once you’re cancer-free, you’re not done,” Bethany told HuffPost. “She has to keep going.”
Sophi’s teacher sent Bethany the last day of school photo and commented on how far the 7-year-old had come in such a short time. Bethany told HuffPost that when the photo from the first day of school was taken, Sophi was cancer-free, but still recovering from chemo and used a feeding tube through her nose.
“She had lost an enormous amount of weight, she had a tube in her nose because she couldn’t eat on her own, she didn’t have any hair, no eyebrows, no eyelashes,” Bethany said. “To see how far she had come just in the course of first grade was remarkable to the teacher. It really is an amazing photo.”
On June 2, Bethany posted the photo of Sophi on Reddit and wrote in the caption that her daughter had “kicked cancer’s ass.” She also shared it on the Facebook page Sophi Strong that was set up for updates on Sophi’s cancer battle. Bethany told HuffPost she has received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback, both from families affected by cancer saying Sophi has given them hope, as well as people never touched by cancer saying Sophi has inspired them to see the world differently. As of Monday afternoon, the Reddit post has received more than 2,400 comments.
“We wanted to show that it happens, that it’s not just sad, but that kids can overcome this and they can become stronger ... so it was really meant to be hopeful and that was how it was received,” Bethany said.
So what does Sophi think of her photo becoming so popular? Bethany said her daughter understands what “going viral” means since she loves YouTube and explained to her that her school photo had done just that.
“She just got this big smile on her face and she said, ‘Well I hope it makes people’s day,’” Bethany told HuffPost.
"My beautiful baby boy was diagnosed at 10 months old with a malignant extrarenal rhabdoid tumor and died on May 12, 2016 at 13 months. MRTs are one of the most aggressive pediatric cancers out there and have one of the poorest prognoses. Sadly, there are very few medications to treat MRTs; those that are approved are adult drugs that are simply scaled down for pediatric dosing.
MRTs are poorly understood in part because they are relatively rare, but also because there is so little funding for research into pediatric cancers. Cancer is the number one disease killer of our children... I would love to see the greatest nation on earth prioritize the health of its children. Parents should not have to bury their children; kids should not have to grow up without their siblings." -- Erin Stensler
"Our daughter, Azariah, was dignosed with bilateral Wilms tumor on June 9, 2015 at 10 weeks old. She had 12 weekly rounds of chemo (VAD) and surgery on September 22, 2015, through which they where able to save most of her right kidney and one third of her left. She's been cancer free since November.
She suffered a bowel obstruction (an unfortunate side effect of her abdominal surgery) in January of this year when we she went septic. We almost lost her twice, once due to the sepsis and then again due to her temporary central line dislodging and fluids causing her to swell so much it was restricting her airway. Happy to say that today she is doing amazing and is full of wonder! She makes us laugh every single day!" -- Sarah Omari Idaeho
"My sweet little Sophia Teddi Lynn was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at 9 months old. She underwent three rounds of chemo, six days of radiation and 10 day of conditioning for a bone marrow transplant. She spent EVERY day of her eight-month fight living within the walls of a pediatric oncology unit. On October 27, 2014 at 14 months, she underwent transplant. We prayed everyday that this was her cure.
On December 17, 2014, she was transferred to the ICU for difficulty breathing and was incubated. She would literally fight for her life for about six weeks before winning her battle forever. Sophia beat the cancer that tried to kill her but in the process was unable to fight off CMV that attacked her lungs. On January 23, 2015 at 10:14 a.m., I rocked her into her forever sleep. She was just 17 months old. Our hearts will never be the same. Her siblings -- 11-year-old Mason, 10-year-old Kyle, and 8-year-old Zoey -- will miss growing up with the baby sister they all loved so much.
My husband and myself will spend the rest of our lives fighting for the lives of other children diagnosed with cancer and keeping our beautiful Sophia's memory alive, all while wishing we could watch her grow up. She will live in our hearts forever." -- Crystal Henshen
"I believe that this picture sums up what having a child with cancer is like. Our daughter was in the PICU for over four weeks. She had major complications right after her initial diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia. She had about 14 or more surgeries back to back and she was in a weird state of unconscious consciousness.
This was the first time her dad had the chance to hold her in more than two weeks. And it was very necessary as she had soiled everything on her bed, and the nurse was so tiny she couldn't change it all without help. So I (the mom) helped her. And Dad didn't want to put her back down. We were still unsure of her fate at the time I took this picture. Luckily, that was two years ago, and she's doing a lot better. Cancer in a child is one of the most evil things that can happen to a family, because it's unprovoked. It doesn't discriminate." -- Jen Johnston
"My son Jack was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on April 8, 2012 at the age of 2. He endured 2.5 years of chemo like a champ. We definitely had our bumps in the road but he was more resilient than anyone I've ever seen. About eight months after he started treatment, I began to save his medicine bottles ... I guess I was curious what a month of bottles would look like ... then 6 months worth. Before I knew it I had saved almost two years of bottles.
I took this photo on the first day he was medication free!!! It's hard to think that this is only about HALF of what he really took! I hate that I had to give my child all these toxic chemicals ... but in the end it saved him so for that I'm thankful! It's a choice no parent should ever have to make -- give your child poison in an effort to save them or don't and watch them die. I now work for the hospital that saved my son and I share his story often. I know this is where I'm supposed to be, doing whatever I can to help others. I feel like it's the least I can do." -- Georgia Nichols
"My son Aiden was 11 months old when he was diagnosed with stage four high risk neuroblastoma. He had surgery to resect the tumor, six rounds of chemo, ten days of radiation, a stem cell transplant, and countless transfusions. He officially had 'no evidence of disease' and was going to be done with radiation soon. Instead after a platelet transfusion, he got a fast acting virus, and within two hours, he was unresponsive. I took him to immediate care where he was taken to the nearest hospital, where they told me he wouldn't make it. I got the hospital Aiden was treated at normally to send a helicopter and once there, he started responding a little.
Then we discovered he had an internal bleed and since his platelets were so low he couldn't clot, and they couldn't do surgery. He died in my arms after a cardiac arrest early the next morning. Aiden was 17 months old when the treatments for his cancer led to his death. I formed a nonprofit in his memory to raise awareness for pediatric cancer and give comfort bags to children under 2 with cancer. We also collect toys, books and PJs for children hospitals." -- Erica Lynne
"My baby girl, Ayla, is a 3 year old who was diagnosed with an inoperable malignant brain tumor at 12 months old. She has endured 59 weeks of chemotherapy, countless blood transfusions and infections due to complications of treatment. Her tumor has caused her vision loss in her right eye, and she continues to live with many long term side effects and delays due to the harsh chemo drugs she has been on.
Because her tumor is inoperable, the only treatment options are chemo and radiation at this time. Thankfully, her tumor has remained stable since ending her 59 week protocol of chemo, so her doctors have decided to watch her tumor closely while off treatment. With growth, chemotherapy and radiation will resume." -- Dana Sires Ochoa
"Gracie was diagnosed with retinoblastoma cancer on May 16, 2016. Her eye was removed June 1, 2016. She is doing chemo as well and yet she still smiles every day. She is a fighter!!" -- Elly Smith
"My son William has been battling Leukemia for the past year, diagnosed on August 6, 2015 with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Chemo did not work for him so he needed a life-saving bone marrow transplant which he received on April 1, 2016. He received bone marrow from his amazing and brave brother, Edward, who is only 4 years old. We are so proud of our boys.
Our lives have been turned completely upside down, and my spouse and I have missed over a year of work. But our boys are doing well, and that is all that matters. Please donate blood and get on the bone marrow donation registry." -- Meri-Li Forrest
"My daughter Monroe was diagnosed with infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia MLL-R at just 9 weeks old on June 3, 2014. She had over a year of high dose chemo and was finally in maintenance (lower dose chemo) in August 2015. Unfortunately she relapsed January 1, 2016 and began her fight all over again! With the lack of funding, our babies are given chemotherapy that leaves them with no immune system to fight infections that we all naturally have in our systems.
My baby girl passed away January 31, 2016 because she had no immune system to fight the bacterial infections and fungal infections she contracted while trying to battle leukemia. She will forever be 22 months old and leaves behind a loving momma, dadda and big brother! Our family will never be whole again because she will forever be missing!" -- Michelle Mutschler Anderson
"This is one of my favorite photos -- so beautiful, yet so sad. She was too little to know most kids don't play dress up with hospital supplies or just look out of windows instead of playing outside. This was NORMAL life for her. Diagnosed with stage IV Neuroblastoma, Jillian had a body riddled with cancer yet she survived. Yes, she is one of the lucky ones, we are blessed. Yet each day still holds the unknown for her, and she suffers the effects of treatment to rid her body of cancer.
Beating cancer is not the end of the journey for our children -- it is only one chapter. Would I trade it for the alternative? No. Am I ungrateful? Absolutely not ... life is precious and my only wish is that she could have a NORMAL, healthy, peaceful life. They are worth more than four." -- Jason Natasha Maghoney
"This is my daughter Jaecee. She was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma on her third birthday last year. After an intense PICU stay, and four months of in hospital treatments, she is CANCER FREE and going STRONG! Tomorrow is her 'Cancerversary.'" -- Jessica Leigh Anne
"My son Tommy was diagnosed July 28, 2016 with a large stage three Wilms tumor. He had surgery on August 1 to remove the tumor and his left kidney. It was approximately the size of a football. He has had six radiation treatments and to date has had three chemotherapy treatments and will be done with chemo by February by the time he turns 5! He's such a strong and energetic little boy and I know he can overcome this and anything else in his path ... including preschool starting soon." -- Chelsea Lawson
"On December 14, 2015, my perfect little world changed in an instant. I was told at 8:52 a.m. that my precious toddler, just 2 years old, had brain cancer, medulloblastoma. He spent 109 nights in the hospital from January until July. Stan had three rounds of three day chemo, a successful stem cell harvest, three two-day treatments of high dose chemo and three stem cell transplants.
Stan is an amazing fighter and prayers were answered when I heard the words 'no evidence of disease' after his first MRI after treatment. Stan has a long road ahead, and I pray each day for his future, and for there to be a cure for childhood cancer." -- Lindsey Selph Evans
"This is Keano Clark at age 11. He had non-Hodgkin lymphoma, specifically diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. He received nine spinal taps, two blood transfusions and a total of 39 days of chemotherapy. He always has a smile on his face regardless of his pain." -- Kathy Wilson
"This is my 8-year-old son Bastian on the day that he was diagnosed with two different types of cancer found in a tumor within his spinal cord pressing against his brain stem, glioblastoma multiforme and anaplastic pilocytic astrocytoma. What stands out the most to me about our journey and others that I've witnessed so far is the resilience of these kids facing the biggest fight of their lives.
Even though we had just received devastating news, he was smiling because it was the first time he sat up on his own since the day he was acutely paralyzed from the neck down. In that moment, he knew he was well on his way to riding his scooter again and being 'the fastest kid in the neighborhood.' I'm not sure what the future has in store for my incredible son, but there will always be hope, and we will never, ever give up." -- Kimberlee Rhodes
"My son Keane was 16 months old when he was diagnosed with stage three high risk neuroblastoma. He has had six cycles of high dose chemo and surgery to resect the tumor. He'll be going in for tandem stem cell transplants in September, then radiation and immunotherapy. He has already gone through so much more than some of us will go through in our lifetime. His mommy, daddy, brother and sister are so proud of him and love him so much." -- Dawn Sullivan
"Our daughter, Camryn, was diagnosed with B-cell ALL on April 12, 2016. It took a long hard month of fighting (among many hospital stays) to get her into remission. She has gone through three out of the six phases of her treatment protocol and has been doing pretty well throughout all of it. Regardless, this disease has changed the way my husband, our 5-year-old son, Camryn and myself live and continue to live. It's a parent's worst nightmare. They deserve more than four percent." -- Natalie Schoppe Adkison
"This is Katie-Anne. She turned 3 years old on April 23, 2016. She was diagnosed with stage IV high risk neuroblastoma on September 1, 2015. Tomorrow it will be a year that we've been fighting cancer." -- Elisabeth Bernau
"My beautiful daughter Cici was diagnosed with anaplastic (stage IV) ependymoma, a CNS cancer, at age 3 and a half. After 14 hours of brain surgery to remove her tumor, she was remarkably discharged from the hospital only three days later, over a week sooner than the doctors' estimates. She endured six weeks of radiation to her brain, and several hospitalizations, but was then declared cancer free in November of 2006, just after her fourth birthday.
We enjoyed six years of cancer free life before her cancer recurred in her spine at the beginning of her 4th grade year, at age 9. This tumor was determined to be inoperable, too high risk for paralysis. She underwent 2.5 months of chemotherapy, six weeks of radiation to her spine, and 4.5 months of maintenance chemotherapy. Although she will never be considered 'cancer free' again, due to the tumor tissue remaining on her spine, she has now been off treatment for over three years and remains stable.
She does have seizures as a result of everything her brain has gone through, but is doing well now. She is an honor roll student and a talented writer and artist with a huge heart for animals. When Cici was initially diagnosed, there was less than a three percent chance of survival, and chemo was not considered effective on ependymoma. If not for research done since, there would have been no treatment options available upon her recurrence. This is why our children deserve and NEED more than four." -- Kaitiy Collins
"My son Gavin, now 3, was diagnosed with a low grade glioma on his optic nerves when he was 7 months old. The tumor also pushed up against his pituitary gland, so he also had low sodium issues. After a year and a half of chemo, his tumor shrank and remains stable now for 17 months, since the end of chemo. I post this picture because it is pure joy, and reminds me how far we have come from 2014. I pray every day for God's healing hand to keep Gavin safe. I know he is with all children and families touched by this evil disease." -- Alix Lopez
"Charlotte was diagnosed at 15 months with hepatoblastoma, liver cancer. She relapsed after one year and she is fighting it again. She has permanent hearing loss due to cisplatin chemo. She lights up every room with her smile, and we are trying to make every day count to the fullest because none of us know what our future holds." -- Cari Cambridge
"My son Mason was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia a month after he turned 2. He has gone through three years of treatment and will have his last dose of chemo December 26, 2016. He is the strongest person I have ever met and my hero. I will advocate for these children until the government and big pharma realizes they are worth more than four." -- Nikki Kleman
"My only child Abel was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 3 years on April 8, 2015. He had a rough start due to pneumonia and hepatitis. He stopped walking for two months due to the harsh treatments he received and is still receiving. By God's grace he is in remission and is receiving chemotherapy until July 2018." -- Jasmin Sandoval
"This beautiful 12-year-old was just diagnosed with stage four non Hodgkin B-lymphoblastic lymphoma on August 1, 2016. She is my warrior. Today was her last treatment of her first round of chemo. She has a two year road map. If anyone's children has ever been diagnosed with this... please contact me. I have questions." -- Phaedra Grate
"My son Sean was diagnosed three months ago, at the age of 19, with localized Ewing's sarcoma in his pelvis. He was in his first year of college and started complaining of intermittent back pain. For six months, we thought he hurt his back at work. The pain became constant, and he was sent for an MRI. He has undergone six rounds (of 14) of chemotherapy and will soon start 31 days of radiation." -- Nicole Stein Buffington
"My daughter Zoe was diagnosed with a stage four Wilms' tumor in 2014 that had spread to the kidney, lungs, and around her heart. She underwent many scans, blood work, blood transfusions, MRIs, CT scans, chemo, biopsies, radiation, kidney removal, tumor surgery, and much more at the very young age of 3. Currently all is stable and she is scanned every three months." -- Courtney Holland Tipping
"My daughter Gemma was diagnosed at age 2 with a inoperable low grade tumor on her brainstem. The biopsy surgery that was necessary to find the grade of her tumor left her with major left side weakness of her whole body. She has not walked since the operation. However, after two years of treatment, we found a drug (Avastin) that shrunk her tumor in half and now, six months later, she remains stable!!!
One day at a time, we will continue to fight, and we thank God for every day, every milestone and every blessing we get with our beautiful daughter. This journey is not one I wish on anyone, but it has given me a completely different perspective on life. These kids are the bravest people I have ever met and they don't even know it. They just try to find the good in each day and they try and laugh as much as they can. They deserve so much more than four percent." -- Teal Thron-Guion
"Our baby boy Everett was diagnosed at 6 months with a malignant rhabdoid tumor of the liver. Even though it is one of the most aggressive cancers out there, we had great hope after a successful resection. Soon after, however, they found lesions in his lungs and both Boston Children's and St. Jude's both told us it was impossible to save him.
We took him home where he died peacefully on February 22, 2015 in our arms after all his family got to say goodbye. There was an amazing sunset the moment he left his body. Many people took pictures and were posting them before they even knew Rett had passed. He was loved by many and he continues to change lives. The greatest gift he has sent us is his angelic baby sister, Everly, who was born this past March. She has brought so much joy back into our lives." -- Deana Aulisio Cavan
"Caitlin (left), me (center) and Jack (on my lap). I'm the only one still here. This was taken a little over 17 years ago, and we were all treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. I could write you a book because a few sentences just wouldn't suffice." -- Melissa McDonell
"This is my daughter Kallie. After being extremely healthy for six and a half years except digestion issues that we saw several doctors for, we found a 15 centimeter tumor in her pelvis. Stage IV neuroblastoma. She missed a year and a half of being a kid as we spent 90 percent of the time in the hospital. When we weren't, her immune system was too compromised to do anything.
She's had six rounds of high dose chemo, a nine hour surgery to remove her tumor, a stem cell transplant that resulted in a life threatening reaction called VOD, 12 rounds of radiation, a five hour surgery to remove adhesions from her first surgery, five rounds of antibody therapy, countless blood transfusions, 18 ng tubes, many many medications and several smaller surgeries. Although we are thankful for the therapy that has kept her here, it has caused some hearing loss and she will never have babies of her own. Even if she's determined to be in remission the relapse rate is about 50 percent." -- Jennifer Kramp
"Our daughter Avery Jane was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma at her 2-year well visit with the pediatrician. Since January of 2015, she has had four surgeries & 15 rounds of chemo. We've learned that the chemo available for her isn't working, but she is still fighting. We are hopeful for a cure. Until then, we make the most of each day and have fun!" -- Cathy Braden
"Kaylee was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at 18 months old. She had a very rough start with treatment due to some infections, and was hospitalized for 95 days. Since then, she has tolerated most of her treatment very well. In May, she went through radiation treatments because she had leukemia in her central nervous system when she was diagnosed. Radiation was very scary, and it took her body a while to recover.
Now, she is in a phase of treatment (maintenance) where she can finally go out in public again (cautiously, and with lots of clorox wipes and sanitizer!). Throughout everything, she has been so strong and brave. She makes us laugh all the time, and she makes us so proud. Kaylee will complete treatment next September, 2 days after she turns 4!" -- Samantha Foisner King
"My son Dylan was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia two weeks after his second birthday on April 27, 2016. As a parent, nothing can prepare you for such a thing, yet nothing will make you fight harder. Dylan receives weekly chemotherapy through his port line. He will be receiving treatment for 3.5 years. The magnitude of having a child with cancer can't be comprehended until you are living this nightmare. These kids are strong, resilient, and given way too much to deal with at such a young age." -- Kimberly Keil
"This is my daughter Olive at the hospital the day she had a port placed in her chest so she could start chemo treatments for her brain tumor. She wasn't even 2 years old yet. There is no other monster like pediatric cancer, but she is fierce." -- Trista Tisdel Ray
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