After battling cancer for half of her life, every day is special for Azayliah Perez. But October — six months after her leukemia went into remission — gave the 9-year-old a whole month to celebrate how far she’s come.
It started with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk, where Zay was honored as a survivor with a giant photo of her posted along the course. Next up, she took to the runway in two fashion shows — one of which raised money for cancer research.
And the month ended with a joyful party to celebrate her strength, courage and victory over leukemia.
“It felt like it took forever to be normal,” Zay says. “And now that I am, it feels so good.”
Light The Night
Zay’s mom, Desiree Mendoza, and her aunt, Stephanie Rodriguez, are helping out at the Light the Night event at Reid Park. They hand out snacks from the Warrior Tent, which is decorated with photos of doctors, including Zay’s — Dr. Emmanuel Katsanis.
“I don’t have kids,” says Rodriguez. “So I do what I can for Azayliah. ... She’s my first love. She’s been through so much.”
When Zay arrives, she begins running up and down a hill with her cousins and sister, playing tornado. Despite the childsplay, she’s very aware of the reason she’s here today.
“I’m excited about the walk,” she says, “because it helps other kids.”
Her family members — both her mom’s and dad’s side are here — are present to walk and celebrate with her. It’s not a sense of relief that she is in remission so much as gratification that what they expected all along came to pass.
“This outcome was my expectation,” says Jimmy Perez, Zay’s father. “I always told her we all live with cancer, but it’s doubt and uncertainty. You can’t believe in that expiration date. Uncertainty is our disease.
“I’m just happy,” he says. “We never gave up. ... I think that’s what helped her. Things are normal.”
Back at the tent, Marta and Emma Gonzalez arrive. They are here to walk with Zay’s team — and also in memory of Delia Gonzalez, Zay’s beloved friend and mentor and the Gonzalezes’ beloved daughter and sister.
Back when they were both sick, Zay and Delia made a pact to walk together at Light the Night. But they never got the chance. Delia died Jan. 9 at the age of 19.
So Marta walks in her place — to represent Delia’s constant support for Zay. Being involved and doing the things Delia wanted to do helps Marta keep her daughter’s spirit alive.
On stage just before the walk, an announcer talks about the colored balloons people are holding.
“Those carrying gold balloons are walking in memory of loved ones,” he says. “Raise the gold balloons. Let’s have a moment of silence in memory of those we’ve lost.”
Chatter gives way to a powerful silence, as illuminated gold balloons are raised toward the dark night sky.
“White balloons represent survivors. You are our heroes. Your strength inspires us. Raise those balloons.”
Glowing white balloons are raised in the air, as sustained applause and whoops of joy echo across the park.
“Supporters are holding red balloons. ... You are all part of saving lives. Let’s walk to the end of cancer.”
The crowd cheers.
Katy Perry’s song “Roar” plays on the giant speakers as nearly 2,500 participants pass through the arch of balloons.
“I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire. ’Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar.”
“Hey, that’s my song,” Zay says. Like many people here, she relates to the lyrics of the song.
“Cancer tried to beat her down,” her mom says. “But like a tiger, she came up fighting and showed cancer that she’s a tiger at heart with strength and courage.”
As the song plays, Desiree’s eyes well up with tears.
“Zay,” she says, “roar!!!”
“Roar!”
And the walk begins. Some complete it alone, in silence. Some, like Marta and Emma, take each step arm in arm.
Zay dances.
The mile-long course around and through Reid Park is dotted with giant photos of survivors, including Zay.
“Wooo!” her family shouts when they see her photo. “Let’s get a picture in front of it.”
Zay reluctantly poses.
“OK. Can we walk now?” she asks, eager to escape the spotlight.
“My Hair’s Growing!”
Before going through radiation and chemotherapy, Zay’s long hair was her security blanket. When she went to sleep at night, she let it partially cover her face, like a mustache.
Losing it was devastating.
But to her surprise, her post-chemo pixie hair has been a hit with the girls at school. Some even say they wish their hair was like hers.
Now it’s starting to grow out — and in each longer strand Desiree sees another reason to rejoice.
“I was combing her hair, and I told her I thought it would go into little pigtails,” Desiree says.
Zay didn’t believe her, so her mom gathered the hair close to her face and pulled it back into a small ponytail.
“My hair’s growing!” the little girl shrieked.
She was nervous to go to school sporting her new hairstyle — two small pigtails, with a glittery headband in front.
“I was all, ‘They’re gonna laugh at me because I have piggy tails,’” Zay says. But her good friend had her back. “Tavia was all, ‘You look so cute.’”
Fashion Shows
Zay models in two fashion shows in October.
The first is for the grand opening of Gisele’s Boutique. The shop’s owner, Wendy Garcia, asked Zay to model the dress her store made for the Celebration of Life party. Garcia donated the $75 dress, as well as a tiara.
“When I heard their story, I was in tears,” Garcia says. “I have family suffering from cancer, so I know what it’s like. I was more than happy to do it.”
Zay, who is usually pretty shy in the spotlight, nails it. And that makes her more confident for the second fashion show the next day.
This one, Runway for Research, is to raise money for cancer research. Zay and her sister, Khaylina, model T-shirts they made at the Art Institute of Arizona.
Zay’s features a fabric collage inspired by a school art project. She was excited about her design and told her mom that Mrs. Egan, her teacher, was going to be so proud of her.
“It was fun,” Desiree says. “The girls surprised us.”
Dr. Katsanis, Zay’s cancer doctor, walks the girls to the stage, and they take it from there. With confidence and a little bit of sass, they walk to the music, stop at the end of the runway and strut back.
Victory party
The month ends with something Zay dreamed of for a very long time: a Celebration of Life victory party that honors her and celebrates her cancer being in remission.
It didn’t come easy. The date has changed several times due to lack of funds. When Zay was sick, the family’s unpaid electric bill climbed to $7,000. The party fund they had been collecting through car washes had to be used to keep the lights on.
But at last they pulled it off, with a little help. Two family friends and two aunts did the cooking. Desiree, a family friend, an aunt and a cousin made purple and orange butterflies and lanterns to serve as table centerpieces. Desiree and her mom sought donations for a DJ and a cake. An uncle put together a slide show.
“There were a few moments where I thought this is not going to happen,” Desiree says before the party begins. “But it’s coming together.”
Almost from the start of Zay’s battle with cancer, the family believed that Zay would beat it — and that they’d celebrate when she did. A post-cancer bash was on Zay’s list of goals, along with ringing the gong at Diamond Children’s to signify that her treatment was over. She did that on April 10.
“I remember Delia and Zay talking about the party,” Desiree says. “Delia would ask Zay if she was going to dance, and Zay would say, ‘I don’t know. I’m shy.’ Delia would say, ‘If I dance, will you dance with me?’
Zay’s answer? Yes.
The Dragon Slayer
“Fairy tales are more than true. Not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
That quote by Neil Gaiman — from the story “Coraline” — is, fittingly, the first sentence on the invitations to Zay’s party.
“We chose the quote because it says so much,” Desiree says. “The dragon represents cancer, and Zay is the princess or knight that slays it.”
The purple and orange butterflies and lanterns on the tables at the Disabled American Veterans hall also represent Zay’s fight. Orange for leukemia. Purple for courage.
Zay has always loved butterflies. “They’re free and beautiful,” she says. And they remind her of Delia and of their song, “Gold Forever” by The Wanted. “We are butterflies,” the song says, “meant to fly.”
Jimmy, Desiree and Zay enter the party to the song “Roar” and take the stage before an exuberant crowd of about 200 relatives and friends.
“We’re here together in celebration of the victory that Azayliah had with her battle against cancer,” Jimmy shouts over the cheers. “I remember telling Zay that there was a lot of love out there for her, and a lot of people who cared. And here you guys are. Thank you.”
Zay, in her ruffled purple gown made just for this occasion, looks out over the audience. Many look back with tears in their eyes.
“I would also like to remember those who aren’t with us anymore,” Jimmy continues. “Like Delia, Uncle Mags, Antonio and Tia Amanda.”
By now he has abandoned the speech he planned to give and is speaking from the heart.
“Zay, baby girl, you did it. Mommy and Daddy love you.”
He pauses for a moment.
“All right, everyone, let’s give it up for Zay.” He raises his daughter’s hands. “Put your hands up. You’re a soldier. A lion.”
Zay, looks up at her parents and then at the crowd with a victorious smile.
The crowd cheers, and the family embraces.
Desiree looks in her daughter’s eyes. “Now you can check this party off your goal list.”
Finally Free
Zay’s party is in full swing when sees her school friend Sydney Hagerman walk in.
“Oh, my God,” Zay says. “She’s here.”
Thrilled to have a pal there with her, Zay starts a conga line, leading the kids through the dance hall. Her grandmother Angie Mendoza — swept away by the joyful spirit of the party — joins in, holding onto the last kid in the line. But not for long. After a trip around the hall, she lets go. “I can’t keep up,” she says, laughing.
Zay sees Delia’s family sitting together, and it’s almost like her friend is here. “I feel like she is still here with me,” she says. “This party isn’t just for me.”
After several hours of dancing and running around, the night winds down. Zay opens presents as the adults work on cleanup.
“Oh, I wanted this purse,” she says, holding up a bright pink handbag.
Once she gets through the pile, she talks about how much she loved her bash, and how it was all she hoped it would be. “My whole family tried their hardest to make my party the best they could,” she says proudly.
Even though she’s just a kid, and even though tonight was pure celebration, Zay understands that — like her friend Delia — she might not have made it this far. She did, though, and the party helps her make an important mental shift to see herself not as a patient but as a survivor.
“It made me feel like I am finally free.”
