About Mayla
Our beloved Tremayla Jah’Leah Bates was born on March 15, 2012, and she became the cherished final addition to our family. Known as MAYLA, she possessed a memorable personality right from the start. Diagnosed at the age of five, her journey began.
During the summer of 2017, after a family trip, we were shopping for last-minute back-to-school items for her first day of Kindergarten. While shopping, Mayla stumbled and complained about stomach pain. Rushed to the ER, a thorough examination and scans revealed a mass on her kidney, requiring her transfer to the nearest children’s hospital. There, she was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a kidney cancer medically known as Nephroblastoma. This marked the beginning of a journey we never anticipated as part of our family's story. The memory of entering the oncology wing of the hospital would forever be etched in our minds.
The nurses, doctors, and staff were truly amazing, working tirelessly to keep our spirits up. Following surgeries and chemotherapy, Mayla seemed to be free of cancer. However, a relapse occurred about six months later, plunging us into another battle, even tougher this time. Hospital stays grew longer, radiation was introduced, yet we pressed on. Mayla thrived until facing another, more severe relapse. As she grew older, the mental toll on all of us deepened.
Initially, the outpouring of generosity was remarkable. However, as time passed, the support dwindled. The cancer, which was believed to have high survival rates, proved different in our case. Harsher chemotherapy and additional radiation were administered. The bone marrow transplant process brought unprecedented challenges. Despite it all, we held onto hope until the cancer returned for the final time. This last phase transformed our journey into a nightmare, and at the age of 11, Mayla sadly passed away.
Throughout our lengthy ordeal, we observed that older kids with cancer and their families struggled to receive the same level of support and opportunities as those experiencing their first bout with cancer. Most donations are directed toward initial treatments, leaving families in need during subsequent relapses. This is where our foundation steps in. Families enduring multiple relapses require ongoing support, especially as they juggle the demands of work and caring for other children.
By contributing to our foundation, your donations will aid teens, tweens, and their caregivers. Much-needed resources such as food, financial assistance, age-appropriate entertainment, gas, and self-care items are often lacking. Additionally, we are committed to funding crucial research for a cure. Your support can make a significant difference.
About the Foundation
Mayla’s Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit organization 501(c)3, and all donations are tax deductible and greatly appreciated. Founded in 2023, our goal is to uphold Mayla’s mission of courage, caring, compassion, and kindness in the face of cancer. We also aim to provide invaluable support to heroes and their families, lightening their burden as they battle pediatric cancer. We are dedicated to contributing to research funding for a cure, ensuring that no child has to endure what Mayla did, and no family has to endure the loss of a precious son or daughter.