Happy birthday Dilaya!

In Ohio, Dilaya celebrated her 4th birthday and is Casey Cares' 150th birthday this year!

Casey Cares knows that for a critically ill child, each birthday is a special milestone celebrating life. For the children in our programs, it not only marks another year, but it also demonstrates a great achievement. Casey Cares staff and volunteers work hard to send out each of our kids a special birthday package through our Birthday Blast program - we send over 1,000 a year. This simple act of kindness delivers joy and hope to our kids who are undergoing treatment.

Dilaya's Journey

Her mother, Kayla, discovered her youngest daughter had Wilms Tumor, a form of kidney cancer, when she and her husband, Nigel, realized that “Dialya’s stomach looked a little big so we took her to the doctor [and was diagnosed].”

After joining Casey Cares in 2021, Dilaya and her family have go to Cleveland Brown’s games, watched Monster Jam, and seen the dinos at Jurassic Quest.

So far, Dilaya's favorite activity has been going to Paw Patrol Live!

The mother of three states, “We loved going to see Paw Patrol Live! Dilaya loved it because she usually watches it on TV so seeing it [live] was exciting.”

Kayla appreciates Casey Cares provides consistent, “activities that we get to do.”

Becoming a parent to a child with cancer has not been without its challenges and triumphs as Kayla watched her daughter undergo strict medical care.

“Just coming to terms with it was the hardest part but honestly she took her treatment so well. She always still acted like herself throughout her treatment. The only difference was she lost her hair,” she says.

Today, Kayla states, “As far as Dilaya's attitude, it has never changed, she has always been happy. With her numerous therapies, Dilaya has been off of treatment for 18 months and so far she has been doing good.”

You can help critically ill children like Dilaya - click here!