Azalea's Fight

04/12/2025

Some days she has good days and some days she has hard days. Today was a hard day. It’s times like these where I feel so guilty for giving her the disabilities that she has. I signed the consent forms for the chemotherapy that took her hearing away, for the radiation that gave her back problems and pain. Yes I know that she wouldn’t be alive without it but it still hurts my heart. Watching children treat her differently makes me so sad. She longs to be normal in a body that isn’t. Every day is a blessing but every day is also a fight. Not many childhood cancer survivors talk about what it’s like to live life with these long term side effects caused by treatment. If only Azalea knew how brave she truly is, how she’s fought and won a battle that most adults couldn’t even fathom. I pray this world does not dim her light, she’s such a beautiful soul. I will always wish I could’ve traded places with her, I still do.💗🌺🙏🏻🎗

03/12/2025

You’re loved and missed so much Elijah. Happy Heavenly Birthday! ❤️🙏🏻🎂

Happy Birthday Elijah!

He wouldve just turned 12. He would likely be in that love/hate stage experiencing all the early puberty macho-man but cry at a moments notice. 🥴. Even though its my most unliked age for boys... I wouldve gladly taken it. 😊😉.

His birthday was his absolute favorite holiday. 🎂🎉.

Let me tell you about an act of kindness that fell upon. A few days ago, a young man from the city where Elijah is buried, Oak Harbor, reached out via facebook messenger. He said he had been riding his bike past the cemetery and Elijahs tombstone caught his eye. A few nights later he was riding buy again, and noticed that a lot of the stone had lights by them. He asked permission to purchase and place a light at Elijahs resting place.
He SEEN my boy. He took his time to take notice of him. Then he reached out and offered to a kind thing. This honestly meant so much... that someone that I did not know seen my boy. 🥰.

So, For Elijah's birthday this year, I'd love for all of us to do an act of kindness. Buying someones coffee, helping someone that needs, visiting a neighbor, etc. Something kind...something that uplifts someone else even if it means stepping outside our normal routine or comfort zone. You never know the impact it could make on someone's life.

He, likely, doesnt know Elijah's story. He didnt know that this whole month casts a shadow for me. He didnt know its just what I needed.

So, please, do something kind! In elijah's name. Id love to know what it was that you did. Or what was something a stranger did for you, out of sheer kindness, that made an impact in that moment in your life?

We never know the walk someone else is walking. 🤷‍♀️.

Happy heavenly Birthday, my sweet mama's boy. I miss you more than Id ever be able to put in to words. 💔.

03/12/2025

The kids had a snow day today so we took time to decorate our Christmas Tree and spread some joy. Here are some of Azalea’s favorite ornaments she wanted to share them with you all. ❤️🙏🏻🎄❄️

01/12/2025

A huge thank you to everyone that sent Azalea a birthday card or something from her wishlist. It truly meant the world to her, she could definitely feel the love. 💗🌺🎂

THANK YOU!!
Jessica Sabeth
Cheryl Rhoades
Millie Nannie
Sheryl Massingill
Ann Brooks
Nancy
Easton
Grammy & Poppy
Trudi R
Mary Litke
Marisa Gawerecki
Steve Jacobsson
Sean

I apologize if I didn’t list your name she received so many beautiful cards and gifts. So again thank you all for your constant love and support. 💗

01/12/2025

For those who don’t know her, this is Adalie Jane, Azalea’s younger sister. Addy was just three months old when Azalea was diagnosed with cancer and our worlds turned upside down. Addy literally grew up in the hospital, where she blossomed into a bright light, spreading joy to everyone around her. When she wasn’t being adored by the nurses and doctors, she was playing with Azalea in the hospital hallways. Although she may not have had cancer, she unfortunately had to witness everything that comes with it. Yet, instead of letting it break her, she rose above it, and today she is the sweetest, funniest, and most well-rounded little girl. 💗

Addy is turning 9 years old on December 13th and I know it would make her day to receive birthday cards!! She loves Minecraft, axolotls, and anything girly! Please share this far and wide, thank you so much! 💗🥳🎂🎉

Mail:
Adalie Coolidge
105 Middle Rd
Lake George NY 12845

Addy’s Wishlist for the people who have asked 💗:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/152N9XT3AXDUO?ref_=wl_share

29/11/2025

Azalea was over the moon to go with her Poppy Lyle this morning to pick out some birthday gifts! He let her pick out whatever she wanted and brought her to McDonald’s for lunch. She’s one incredibly blessed little girl! 💗🌺🙏🏻🎁

27/11/2025

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!! ❤️🦃

This is Baby Teddys first one, he’s having a very gourd time! Lol

What are you thankful for this year????

Azalea is thankful for her health, family, pets and food! 💗🙏🏻🌺

26/11/2025

💗🎂💗🎂💗🎂💗

25/11/2025

Azalea has severe high frequency hearing loss due to Cisplatin Chemotherapy. She had perfect hearing and speech prior to that. Having a hearing disability has been anything but easy. She relates to this article so much and I think many people could learn from it. Please teach your children to be inclusive and respect people with disabilities. 💗

“If you say this to a deaf person… please stop.”

Perhaps most of the time, it’s not said with malice,
but from a place of ignorance.

Yet it still hurts.
It still dismisses.
And it still teaches deaf people the wrong things about themselves.

Here are the lines heard often:

“You don’t look deaf.”
What exactly is a deaf person supposed to look like?

“Are you sure you’re really deaf?”
Yes, they’re sure.
Deafness isn’t something you grab at the supermarket and return later.

“Your implants fix everything, right?”
No, they help... but they don’t turn deaf ears into hearing ones.
Hearing through tech is work.
It’s effort.
It’s brain-power.
It’s not “normal hearing.”

“But you hear just fine!”
You’re hearing the best moments, not the full story.

“Why can’t you just try harder to listen?”
Because listening through hearing devices isn’t about volume …
it’s about brain fatigue.

“At least it’s not that bad.”
Please never minimize someone’s disability or identity.

Here’s the truth:

Deaf people with CIs, hearing aids, BAHAs, or no devices at all..
are not confused, less whole, or “less deaf” because they use technology.

They don’t owe anyone perfect hearing.
They don’t owe anyone perfect speech.
They don’t owe anyone explanations.

What they do deserve is:

Understanding.
Patience.
Respect.
Humanity.

If you don’t know what to say, try this:

“Thanks for sharing.
How can I support you?”

It goes a long way.
Way longer than you think.

© Talking Deaf Kid, 2025

24/11/2025

For those who don’t know her, this is Adalie Jane, Azalea’s younger sister. Addy was just three months old when Azalea was diagnosed with cancer and our worlds turned upside down. Addy literally grew up in the hospital, where she blossomed into a bright light, spreading joy to everyone around her. When she wasn’t being adored by the nurses and doctors, she was playing with Azalea in the hospital hallways. Although she may not have had cancer, she unfortunately had to witness everything that comes with it. Yet, instead of letting it break her, she rose above it, and today she is the sweetest, funniest, and most well-rounded little girl. 💗

Addy is turning 9 years old on December 13th and I know it would make her day to receive birthday cards!! She loves Minecraft, axolotls, and anything girly! Please share this far and wide, thank you so much! 💗🥳🎂🎉

Mail:
Adalie Coolidge
105 Middle Rd
Lake George NY 12845

Addy’s Wishlist for the people who have asked 💗:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/152N9XT3AXDUO?ref_=wl_share

23/11/2025

It was an amazing weekend celebrating Azalea’s 11th birthday with one of her best friends. We started off by ordering Friendly’s for dinner, enjoying her cookie cake, indulging in a rejuvenating spa day with facials and glitter, going to Target to spend Azalea’s birthday money and getting Starbucks! Mom is exhausted but the girls had the most incredible time. 💗🎂🌺🥳

21/11/2025

SCREAMING HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS TO OUR BEAUTIFUL AZALEA!! 💗🌺🙏🏻 Our precious miracle is officially 11 years old today, and we couldn't be more grateful for the incredible gift of her life! 💗🎂🎉🥳🎁

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who sent Zale a birthday card or contributed to her wishlist, your thoughtfulness made her birthday truly unforgettable. She is absolutely overjoyed, filled with gratitude, and radiating happiness.

We are also deeply thankful to those who have lifted Azalea up in prayer throughout the years and continue to do so, your unwavering support and love mean the world to us. Thank you for being a vital part of her journey and for helping make her dreams come true. 💗🙏🏻