Meet Rylee 💛

A 4-year-old ALL warrior and 2026 ACCO Ambassador

For days, Rylee’s mom, Ashley, was told everything was “fine.” Allergies. An infection. Something minor.
But Ashley knew in her gut something was seriously wrong.

So she kept showing up.
Urgent Care. The ER. Back to Urgent Care. Back to the ER.

Each visit brought more symptoms: fevers, chills, body aches, a swollen eye, swollen lymph nodes, bruising, joint pain - but still no answers.

On August 6, Ashley refused to leave without one. She demanded a blood test.
That afternoon, she heard the words that shattered her world: her child had leukemia.

With Rylee’s dad deployed overseas, Ashley received the news alone. Within hours, Rylee was in an ambulance headed to Denver.

In just her first week, Rylee endured:

A port placement
A bone marrow biopsy
A lumbar puncture with spinal chemotherapy
Three blood transfusions
Two platelet transfusions
Her first two-hour chemotherapy treatment

A Long Road and So Much Courage

In early September, Rylee was declared in remission 💛
She continues treatment through October 2027 and began Blinatumomab (Blina) therapy in October - carrying her medication in a tiny “superhero” backpack for 28 days at a time.

Despite everything, Rylee is still a joyful four-year-old. She loves riding her bike, playing with her siblings, dressing up, and hosting tea parties. Her smile lights up every room.

When Rylee opened her ACCO medical play kit, she said,
“Look, Mom—this is what I use. I’m really going to be Dr. Ta now!”
Her excitement says it all.

Ashley’s Message to Parents

Trust your gut.
Even if you feel like the “overreacting mom.”
Even if you’re told, “it’s nothing.”

Keep pushing. Keep asking. Keep showing up.
Because sometimes, the fight to be heard is the fight that saves your child’s life.

Ashley shares Rylee’s journey honestly and beautifully, saying:
“When your child is diagnosed with cancer, you don’t get to fall apart. You show up every single day even when your heart feels shattered into a million pieces.”

💛 Your support helps families like Rylee’s feel less alone and gives kids the resources they need to cope, heal, and thrive.

The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is a national nonprofit dedicated to securing federal, state, corporate, and private funding for childhood cancer research, while also serving as the largest provider of free educational support materials for children with cancer and their families in the U.S.

For more than fifty years, the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) has worked diligently to make childhood cancer a national child health priority. During this time, childhood cancer rates have risen, and cancer remains the number one cause of disease-related death among children in the U.S. Despite advances in adult cancer treatments, most children still endure harsh therapies including chemotherapy, radiation, and invasive surgeries, with little change in protocols over the past three decades. These treatments, given during critical developmental stages, lead to lasting effects such as secondary cancers, brain damage, heart disease, learning disabilities, and infertility. As the oldest national nonprofit founded by and for families affected by childhood cancer, ACCO is uniquely positioned to advocate for these children and their families, addressing the urgent need for research and informational support.

GO GOLD® with Ambassador Rylee!