Akira was a bright, generous, kind, loving kid. Her smile could light up a whole room. Dress-up was her favorite, and she usually extended the fun to her dolls, where she would create entire outfits for her dolls to wear. That personality wasn’t shy on camera either, she loved being recorded and her mom is pretty sure she’d be a YouTube star.

Her cancer journey started with a limp. When her mom noticed her favoring a knee, she took her to the hospital in 2018. That’s when everything changed as the doctors at their hospital in Georgia told her they found a tumor. After a biopsy, it was diagnosed as osteosarcoma, a bone cancer and one of the most common pediatric sarcomas.

Akira went through chemotherapy, going back and forth to the hospital frequently for treatment. She underwent a surgery to remove her leg and prepare for a prosthetic leg. However, tests showed that the cancer had spread to her ankle and foot. Akira continued fighting with incredible strength and courage, passing away on May 24, 2019. She was so much more than a diagnosis to her family. She was loving, caring, joyful, and always concerned about the people around her.

Her mom Brianna remembers her for the courage she showed, the light she brought to the world, and hopes she can inspire other families going through this same experience. Her advice is to have faith, stay strong, and believe in yourself with a strong support system by your side.

She wrote a book about Akira’s experience and hopes it will help other kids facing this same journey get through it. To them, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation represents hope for a future with a cure for all kids. Until then, Brianna is focused on honoring Akira’s legacy by supporting any and all childhood cancer families looking for someone to lean on.

Information provided by Brianna R., Akira’s mom
Updated August 2026