Kylin is a joyful little 1-year-old who starts every morning with a smile on her face. She’s a curious girl who loves bouncing along to music, watching Barney and trying new foods. But Kylin’s first year of life hasn’t been an easy one.

In 2025, Kylin was traveling back and forth from three different hospitals, trying to understand what the doctors described as a common cold at the time. Kylin’s face swelled and she had difficulty breathing and sleeping – it was clear that this was more than a cold. Her mom, Diamond, consulted their pediatrician, who sent for an ambulance to take Kylin to the nearest children’s hospital. It took hours for her to stabilize and complete blood tests before receiving a diagnosis. She had ambiguous lineage leukemia.

Kylin spent two months in the ICU using a ventilator multiple times to improve her breathing as the leukemia cells migrated to her lymph nodes. She started treatment soon after with different types of chemotherapy in addition to lumbar punctures. Despite the difficulties of being born with a cleft lip and battling leukemia, Kylin has shown such strength in her young life. Her resilience gives her family hope that Kylin can and will beat this.

One day, Diamond dreams that her daughter will reach remission without relapse. She just wants to see her daughter grow up and experience all the joys that life has to offer. Diamond would like to encourage other families to cherish every moment. “Even the ones that make you shed tears,” she says, “because every day your child wakes up is a day to keep fighting and make new memories.” She realizes that everyone may not understand how difficult this journey is, but she believes that the love between a parent and a child is stronger than the fear a family may be facing.

Kylin’s family looks to organizations like Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for support and as a resource to rely on when it feels impossible to make sense of the things that are happening around you. She’s grateful to have found a place that advocates for children like Kylin and a place where they can navigate this journey alongside other hero families.

Information provided by Diamond T., Kylin’s mom 
Updated March 2026