Sa’Mari is so many wonderful things: sweet, empathetic, brave, caring, resilient – the list goes on! She likes playing with dolls, painting, singing, dancing, and playing outside with her brother and sister. 

Whenever Sa'Mari had her picture taken with the flash on, her mom would notice something strange – Sa'Mari’s left pupil appeared white. At her 4-month check-up, the pediatrician referred her to an ophthalmologist, who believed that what she was experiencing was retinoblastoma. Sa’Mari was referred again, this time to Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. 

There, Sa’Mari’s cancer was confirmed, but not just in her left eye. Sa’Mari had bilateral retinoblastoma, which meant the cancer was present in both eyes. Sa’Mari had double the fight ahead of her. 

She first underwent six rounds of chemotherapy through an IV. Thankfully, the tumor in her right eye shrunk, however the tumor in her left eye did not. Doctors advised it would be best to remove Sa’Mari’s left eye, otherwise the tumor could spread to her brain. Her parents agreed, and Sa’Mari had the removal surgery to save her life. It was a success. 

But months later, Sa’Mari returned to the hospital for a check-up on her right eye to find that, unfortunately, the tumor had come back. This time, Sa’Mari underwent six months of intra-arterial chemotherapy to shrink the tumor. It worked, until her next check-up where it had returned again. In December of 2022, Sa’Mari received something different: plaque radiotherapy. 

Three years later, and Sa’Mari has been in remission ever since! 

She’s a hero to her mom, Samia, because she has endured more in her short span of time than most adults have in their lives. “She is truly resilient and one of the smartest people I know,” Samia shared. “Even as a baby, Sa’Mari was always all smiles during her treatments and after. She always stayed in good spirits as an infant receiving chemo and that was always pretty special to me.” 

Samia wants others to know that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. To those who may also be facing a childhood cancer diagnosis, she believes it’s important to take it one day at a time, stay positive and in good spirits, and better will come.  

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) means a lot to Sa’Mari and her family. During Sa’Mari’s fight, ALSF’s Travel For Care program assisted her family with lodging and travel expenses to get them from their home in Baltimore to Philadelphia for her treatments. “We are truly grateful for the Foundation and it has made our journey a little less tough,” said Samia. 

Before her daughter was diagnosed, Samia had never heard of retinoblastoma. “If I had known about the signs sooner, we could have possibly had enough time to save her left eye as well,” she said. “My family and I have received a lot of support from the Foundation. I hope more awareness is brought to the importance of finding cures and fighting against childhood cancer through Alex’s.” 

“I may have had cancer but cancer doesn’t have me!” - Sa’Mari Weston 

Information provided by Samia W., Sa’Mari’s mom  
Updated November 2025