She was eight years old when her life changed forever.
Now 17, Za’Raya Blunt — lovingly known as “RisingRaya” — continues her courageous fight against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with the same faith, hope, and determination that have carried her through nearly a decade of challenges.
Za’Raya’s story began in February 2016 with what seemed like everyday aches and pains. She complained of a sharp pain in her side, and her mother, Ms. Blunt, noticed strange bruises forming on her body — her mouth, arms, legs, and even around her eyes. Something wasn’t right.
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“I looked at her and my heart sank,” her mother remembers. “She said, ‘Mom, help me please, this doesn’t feel right.’ That’s when I knew I had to get her to the hospital.”
Without a car and desperate for answers, Ms. Blunt grabbed what she could and took the bus to the nearest emergency room. Doctors examined Za’Raya — but what they saw led to an awful misunderstanding. The bruises and discoloration made them suspect abuse.
“They said it looked like she had been beaten,” her mother said. “I was shocked. I told them, ‘No. My child has not been beaten. Something is wrong inside her body.’”
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Despite her pleas, the doctors diagnosed Za’Raya with pneumonia and a urinary tract infection, gave her antibiotics, and sent them home. But Ms. Blunt couldn’t shake the feeling that something much more serious was happening. That night, Za’Raya’s condition worsened. She grew weaker, her fever rose, and new bruises appeared.
“I prayed that night,” her mother said. “I told God, ‘Please, guide me. Show me where to go.’”
The next day, following her intuition, Ms. Blunt searched online for children’s hospitals with the best reviews. Her search led her to MUSC Children’s Hospital in South Carolina. There, everything changed.
“When we arrived, they were so kind,” she said. “They offered us water, a wheelchair, and they listened. They didn’t make assumptions — they cared.”
Doctors immediately ordered blood tests and scans. Within hours, a group of specialists entered the room. Their faces were calm but serious.
“They asked me who told me my daughter had pneumonia or a UTI,” her mother recalled. “I said the first hospital did. They looked at me and said, ‘That’s not what we found.’ Then they told me the words that stopped my heart: ‘Za’Raya has leukemia.’”
It was March 2016 when eight-year-old Za’Raya was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a fast-moving cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
“I didn’t even know what leukemia was,” her mother said. “But I knew it was serious. I just cried. Still, I was thankful to finally know the truth.”
From that day forward, everything became about survival. Za’Raya was immediately admitted for treatment. Over the years, she’s endured multiple surgeries, spinal taps, blood transfusions, and rounds of chemotherapy.
But even while fighting cancer, Za’Raya’s spirit never dimmed. She was determined not to be defined by her illness.
“After I take the medicine, I feel kind of sleepy,” she once said in an interview. “But when I wake up, I just feel better.”
That optimism carried into one of the most memorable parts of her journey — her pink lemonade stand.
Between hospital visits, Za’Raya and her grandmother started brainstorming ways to help with medical costs. Sitting in the hospital one day, inspiration struck.
“Every time we ordered food, she wanted lemonade,” her grandmother said with a smile. “That’s where the idea came from. We thought — why not sell lemonade?”
And just like that, Raya’s Lemonade Stand was born.
Between treatments, Za’Raya set up her stand with her grandmother’s help. Bright, cheerful, and full of heart, she sold pink lemonade to friends, neighbors, and anyone who wanted to support her fight. What started as a small gesture of hope became a community effort — and a symbol of her unstoppable spirit.
“She wanted to help,” her mom said proudly. “She said, ‘If I can do something to help us, I will.’ She’s been through so much — but she still thinks about others.”
That generosity and drive are what earned her the nickname RisingRaya. She rises — every time.
Now, nine years later, Za’Raya continues her treatment at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Her mother says she’s doing well and staying strong, with her trademark smile still lighting up every room she enters.
Outside the hospital, Za’Raya is a bright, creative teenager. She loves to sing, dance, read, and make others laugh. She dreams of one day opening a shelter to help people in need — a reflection of her deep compassion and giving heart.
“She’s always wanted to help,” her mom said. “Even as a little girl, she was always thinking about other people. She’s a blessing.”
Za’Raya’s journey is one of resilience and faith, but also a reminder of how crucial it is to listen to parents — especially mothers — who know when something isn’t right. Her mother’s persistence quite literally saved her life.
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Her story also highlights the ongoing need for childhood cancer research. Leukemia is the most common cancer in children, and though treatments have improved dramatically, the road to recovery is long and demanding. Organizations like the St. Baldrick’s Foundation continue to fund critical research to improve cures and outcomes for kids like Za’Raya.
Through it all, RisingRaya remains a beacon of hope — proof that even in the toughest circumstances, kindness and courage can shine through.
“After everything, she still rises,” her mom said. “That’s my baby — my RisingRaya.”
Her lemonade stand may have started as a way to help with hospital bills, but it became so much more — a symbol of strength, community, and the sweetness of hope.
Nearly a decade later, that hope continues to pour — one cup, one smile, and one brave girl at a time.
Keep rising, Za’Raya. We see you. We’re with you.
Support Childhood Cancer Research:
Help give children like Za’Raya a lifetime. Donate or learn more through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding research for cures and better treatments for childhood cancer.
