Ivy and Paige Holmes
“I Stand Up To Cancer for my daughter, the friends and families we met along the way, the ones who lost their babies, the ones who still have babies fighting, and the ones who will have to go through this awful disease.” – Paige Holmes, Ivy’s mother
Ivy Holmes was just 20 months old when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma as well as Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome, a neurological condition brought on by her tumor. “She slowly started losing her ability to walk, had a constant tremor, couldn’t keep eye contact, and her eyes were constantly shaking. She couldn’t talk to us and was always sick,” says Ivy’s mom, Paige. “I knew nothing about either of these. We were scared. We didn’t know what was next, but I needed to know everything was going to be okay.”
With two rare illnesses, Ivy began 18 months of intense and aggressive treatment. “Some days in the hospital we didn’t sleep because Ivy’s treatment was so rough,” Paige explains. “We were in the hospital for weeks at a time sometimes, and that meant my daughter couldn’t see her big sister, daddy, or baby brother for weeks.” Through it all, however, Ivy’s family received invaluable support. “Our friends and family held us together. Her fight was our fight. We never knew what was next, but we always stood together.”
Paige stands up for Ivy, as well as the friends and families they met along her journey. Her advice to parents facing a cancer diagnosis with their children is: “You are never alone. Find someone to talk to who gets it. Who has lived it and please, always find at least five minutes to just step outside by yourself.” She adds, “There is always someone going through this with you. Hold your family and friends close. Let them take care of you while you go through this. Ask for help, and don’t be ashamed to do so.”
Today, Ivy is five years old, out of treatment and cancer-free. “She is a miracle. She has fought through two rare diseases and came out on top,” says Paige, who shares Ivy’s story to bring awareness and attention to the signs and symptoms they saw, in the hope that it may help others. “I share her story to let everyone know that my daughter is brave, strong, and courageous. She is a fighter, a survivor, and she is thriving in her life.”
Our Mission
Stand Up To Cancer raises awareness and funds research to detect and treat cancers with the aspiration to cure all patients. Find out how you can get involved.
