Photos: Azayliah Perez emerges from cancer
- Updated
Zay Perez is hailed as a cancer warrior during a Light the Night walk and proudly hosts a Celebration of Life. "We are celebrating the outcome, I always knew we would have," Jimmy Perez, Zay's dad says.
With all the treatments, hospital stays and sickness behind her, Azayliah Perez finally enjoys her Celebration of Life victory party with hundreds of friends, family and healthcare staff on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013, at the Disabled American Veterans center, 3455 S. Wilmot Road.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Mom Desiree Mendoza, right, has some last second tips for Zay Perez before she shows off her Celebration of Life party dress, donated by Gisele's Boutique, during a grand opening runway show at the shop, 2940 E. 22nd St., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. Dressed in purple with an orange accent flower, Zay felt a little unsure about what to do for her first ever runway gig.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
As dad Jimmy Perez holds up her arms and with mom Desiree Mendoza by her side, 9-year-old Zay Perez enters her Celebration of Life party to mark her strength, courage and victory over leukemia, which she has battled for half her life.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Zay Perez shows off her Celebration of Life party dress, donated by Gisele's Boutique, during a grand opening runway show at the shop, 2940 E. 22nd St., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. Dressed in purple with an orange accent flower, Zay felt a little unsure about what to do for her first ever runway gig.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Though she completed treatment for her leukemia on April 10, young Zay still goes in for her monthly clinic check-up at the pediatric hematology and oncology clinic at University of Arizona Medical Center Diamond Children’s in Tucson.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Nurse practitioner Lucy Pelayo-Katsanis, left, examines Zay Perez as she goes in for her monthly clinic check-up at the pediatric hematology and oncology clinic at University of Arizona Medical Center Diamond Children's on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Ever the energetic youth, Zay plays with cousin Ivan Diaz before her Celebration of Life party begins. With all the treatments, hospital stays and sickness behind her, Azayliah Perez finally enjoys her Celebration of Life victory party with hundreds of friends, family and healthcare staff.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Desiree Mendoza, right, shows off Zay's sign to daughter Khaylina that was featured during The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, at Reid Park . Azayliah's photograph is posted prominently under the heading of "Warrior" on a tree along the 1-mile walk of cancer fighters, survivors and supporters.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Zay Perez showed off her frilly purple Celebration of Life party dress, created and donated by Gisele’s Boutique, for mom Desiree Mendoza during the grand opening runway show at the shop, 2940 E. 22nd St., last month. The next day, she participated in a second fashion show, Runway for Research, which raised money for cancer research.
- Photos by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Zay Perez, right, takes a picture with her pediatric nurse Sherryanne Paul-John, left, after the Runway for Research Zumba Fashion Show on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2013, at Metal Arts Village, 3230 N. Dodge Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz. Pediatric cancer patients from strutted their stuff in custom-made shirts to raise money for research.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Zay leads a line of friends and family on the dance floor at her Celebration of Life parry. With all the treatments, hospital stays and sickness behind her, Azayliah Perez finally enjoys her Celebration of Life victory party with hundreds of friends, family and healthcare staff.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Zay Perez, center, shows off her Celebration of Life party dress, donated by Gisele's Boutique, during a grand opening runway show at the shop, 2940 E. 22nd St., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. Dressed in purple with an orange accent flower, Zay felt a little unsure about what to do for her first ever runway gig.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
With all the treatments, hospital stays and sickness behind her, Azayliah Perez finally enjoys her Celebration of Life victory party with hundreds of friends, family and healthcare staff on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013, at the Disabled American Veterans center, 3455 S. Wilmot Road.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Mom Desiree Mendoza, right, has some last second tips for Zay Perez before she shows off her Celebration of Life party dress, donated by Gisele's Boutique, during a grand opening runway show at the shop, 2940 E. 22nd St., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. Dressed in purple with an orange accent flower, Zay felt a little unsure about what to do for her first ever runway gig.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Zay Perez shows off her Celebration of Life party dress, donated by Gisele's Boutique, during a grand opening runway show at the shop, 2940 E. 22nd St., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. Dressed in purple with an orange accent flower, Zay felt a little unsure about what to do for her first ever runway gig.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Ever the energetic youth, Zay plays with cousin Ivan Diaz before her Celebration of Life party begins. With all the treatments, hospital stays and sickness behind her, Azayliah Perez finally enjoys her Celebration of Life victory party with hundreds of friends, family and healthcare staff.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Desiree Mendoza, right, shows off Zay's sign to daughter Khaylina that was featured during The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, at Reid Park . Azayliah's photograph is posted prominently under the heading of "Warrior" on a tree along the 1-mile walk of cancer fighters, survivors and supporters.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Zay Perez showed off her frilly purple Celebration of Life party dress, created and donated by Gisele’s Boutique, for mom Desiree Mendoza during the grand opening runway show at the shop, 2940 E. 22nd St., last month. The next day, she participated in a second fashion show, Runway for Research, which raised money for cancer research.
- Photos by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Zay Perez, right, takes a picture with her pediatric nurse Sherryanne Paul-John, left, after the Runway for Research Zumba Fashion Show on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2013, at Metal Arts Village, 3230 N. Dodge Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz. Pediatric cancer patients from strutted their stuff in custom-made shirts to raise money for research.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Zay leads a line of friends and family on the dance floor at her Celebration of Life parry. With all the treatments, hospital stays and sickness behind her, Azayliah Perez finally enjoys her Celebration of Life victory party with hundreds of friends, family and healthcare staff.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Zay Perez, center, shows off her Celebration of Life party dress, donated by Gisele's Boutique, during a grand opening runway show at the shop, 2940 E. 22nd St., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. Dressed in purple with an orange accent flower, Zay felt a little unsure about what to do for her first ever runway gig.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
As featured on
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