Ameenah is 9 years old and starting 4th grade this year. She loves to draw and play instruments like the flute and the piano. At home, Ameenah is often collecting squishies, playing with slime, or listening to Taylor Swift.

As the second oldest of five kids in her family, Ameenah has been a source of comfort for her family during a difficult time. In 2022, Ameenah’s sister Maryam was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called craniopharyngioma. She had neurosurgery to remove the tumor but developed several chronic and life-threatening conditions afterwards.

While Maryam now requires around the clock medication to help her fight illnesses and function in her everyday life, she has a whole team of siblings by her side ready to help. From explaining her health journey to people around them, making sure she takes her medications on time, and letting an adult know when she is struggling with her symptoms, Ameenah and her siblings are always sensitive to Maryam’s specific needs.

Ameenah and her siblings do their best to always have empathy and prioritize Maryam’s comfort, sometimes over their own. On several occasions, Maryam has been hospitalized due to how easily viruses can trigger a life-threatening adrenal crisis for her. Even when these scary situations arise on holidays or graduations or vacations, Ameenah and her siblings have learned to be flexible and adaptable even when their special event doesn’t go according to plan.

As a part of the SuperSibs program, Ameenah and her siblings enjoy receiving mail from Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Whether they’re going on scavenger hunts or doing crafts together, it helps them to feel recognized for their unique situation. Although they are still facing so much uncertainty, Ameenah continues to be a light to her siblings and the rest of her family.