RADCLIFF, Ky. (WDRB) -- A 9-year-old girl in Fort Knox has fought leukemia twice in five years, but she's now using her story to inspire other families going through similar challenges.
For the first four years of Evelena Chee-Metternick's life, she was healthy. Then in the span of two days, her life changed.
Evelena Chee-Metternick was diagnosed with leukemia at 4 years old.
At first glance, someone meeting Evelena Chee-Metternick wouldn't know what the fourth grader has gone through.
"I like to travel," Evelena said. "And most of the times, I like to carry Harold (her cat) even though he doesn't want to be carried."
The cat-loving, little girl hasn't always been strong enough to play.
In 2018, at the age of four, her parents noticed something was wrong. Two days later, doctors diagnosed her with leukemia.
"The first couple of days it was shocking," Renee Chee-Metternick said. "I cried. And then we get to the hospital and I looked at the doctor and I said 'is she going to live?' And they said 'she's going to be fine.' And I stopped crying. And I never cried over it again."
From surgeries, to bone marrow biopsies and then two-and-a-half years of aggressive chemotherapy, Evelena beat it.
"We had a party and when she was done with ensuring or fell over, the nursing staff over in Peoria that threw Funfetti out there was a celebration," said Kyle Chee, her father. "We thought we were done with it."
About two years later, her mom noticed new bruising.
"I was kind of sad," Evelena said. "I got sick in the hospital. But when it was the second time I knew what would go through again."
At nine years old, Evelena relapsed in May of 2023.
"That was tough to watch as a parent, it's tough for the nursing staff," said Kyle.
Spending time at hospitals in Illinois and Ohio, this military family has seen it all.
"It's like a marathon, not a sprint," Kyle said. "As far as any other parents going through this, you're going to have your ups and downs and so it's a marathon."
Evelena is now back in school at Fort Knox, telling her friends where she's been and why she still needs to be careful.
On billboards throughout Elizabethtown, Evelena is featured waiting for the next chance to travel.
"Usually sometimes I don't really tell them but I sometimes tell them about it," Evelena said. "And they're like, 'why can't you go on playground stuff?' It's just slides."
Now, you can see the Girl Scout on billboards throughout Elizabethtown, as she dreams of the next chance to travel.
"You have to advocate for your children," Renee said. "They have a voice but sometimes they can't use their voice, especially little kids."
"It doesn't matter if it's brain cancer, if it's lung cancer, leukemia, we are all a family," Renee said. "And we were all here together. We are all just here to support each other."
Those billboards are to raise awareness and money for the family to go on a Disney trip through the non-profit 'Campaign One at a Time.' To donate, click here.
The family also has a GoFundMe page for upcoming travel hospital expenses. To donate, click here.
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