Scarlett's Story

What can I say about our sweet precious Scarlett?

She was anything but a quiet, shy little girl. She didn't have many words at her young age, but she captured everyone’s hearts with her many genres of dance performances, her love for the Buffalo Bills, her animated facial expressions, her laugh, her smile and those adorable dimples that sunk deeply into each little cheek. Scarlett made a huge impact in her short time with us here on earth.

Ever since I could remember, I wanted to be a mom. I would take care of my dolls with devotion, and help my mom with my sister and brother, as well as the kids she would watch. My first pregnancy ended in a devastating miscarriage, but in February 2018, we learned that our miracle rainbow baby Scarlett was on the way. On October 17, 2018, I gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby girl. She mastered every milestone as she grew into this sassy, funny little toddler.

Shortly after her first birthday, on Sunday, January 26, 2020 our world began to change. My friend and her daughter were over when I noticed a lump on her right forearm the size of a giant gumball out of nowhere. We took her to the doctor the next day and were told it was likely a bug bite. I knew in my mind it wasn't a bug bite. By Wednesday the lump grew and Scarlett was not acting like herself. Following a week of antibiotics, the lump was bigger. An ultrasound at Oishei Children's Hospital revealed a mass. Soon after, we received a terrifying call from Roswell’s Pediatrics department. They asked us to come see them before our MRI. While we went to Roswell with hopes that it WAS a precaution, by the time we pulled in the driveway from getting home, we got the call that changed our lives forever. We heard the word no parents want to hear: “YOUR CHILD HAS CANCER.” Our sweet Scarlett had many scans and biopsies to finally learn the devastating news that she had stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma and Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma. The next week she had a PET scan and MRI to see if the cancer had spread, a bone marrow biopsy, and her Medi port put in all within a few days of each other. This was only the beginning and my 1-year-old baby had gone through so much already.

Scarlett’s body rejected the chemotherapy she was on. She then started a new aggressive chemotherapy that had us in the hospital for days on end, While getting this aggressive chemotherapy regimen she also was getting daily radiation on her arm. She was so brave. You would never know what she was going though because she was still her spunky, sassy, smiley self. She eventually finished her treatment plan and had 3 months of being clear from cancer. Then our world got rocked again. I found another lump this time in her right armpit. I intuitively felt like everything was happening all over again and I was right. We soon received the second worst news ever. Scarlett’s cancer relapsed and spread to her clavicle, around her esophagus, and inside and outside of her lungs. This cancer was taking over my baby’s body, and by April it had spread to her spine. It hurt her to stand, sit or lay. My baby was in so much pain. What followed was several hospital admissions and new treatment protocols.

The team at Roswell was amazing once again and once again Scarlett stole everyone's heart. Scarlett began to take baby steps and using her push toy walker and trying to talk again. Did we get our miracle? She was doing so good and the new treatment was working.

Then, on June 18th, we had her MRI and P.E.T scan. Cancer hit again. Now there was more on her spine. Scarlett became worse and weaker. On June 23rd, 2021, we were told there was nothing more they could do. Her cancer was still spreading and was chemo resistant. There were no more options. All together Scarlett had been on 26+ different chemotherapy medications and 44 rounds of radiation, and this cancer was not stopping. Our sweet Scarlett Rae took her last breath in my mom’s arms on June 30, 2021, at 11:00 A.M. .

Our baby had the hardest life you can imagine, and she did it all with a smile. The last three words my baby whispered to me was: “mama, shoes and socks.” We will live the rest of our lives honoring her and making sure the love she brought to us continues to make a difference in this world.

-Scarlett’s Mom, Mandy Kiera

Remembering Scarlett Rae Kiera (October 17, 2018 - June 30, 2021)

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Order your Skating for Scarlett apparel now!

If you would like to purchase apparel for this event, please head to this webpage now. Please reach out to Studio 4 East with any questions regarding your order.

A MESSAGE FROM STUDIO 4 EAST:

Orders will be fulfilled within 3-4 weeks of the close of the store.

Orders are placed once the final store closes, and all orders are final.
Estimated availability is approximately 3-4 weeks after the store closes. Please note the official close date will be considered the first work day after the close.
Embroidered items may take longer than screen printed items.
There is a chance some items may be on back order and will be fulfilled at a later date.
Due to supply chain disruptions, we do reserve the right to substitute similar products, colors, or sizes within the order based on availability.
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Skating for Scarlett 2026

A legacy event in memory of Scarlett Rae Kiera