Meet Melody: Diagnosed as a baby, she’s now 13 – and she’s turning her survivorship into hope for others.

Melody was just 10 months old when she was diagnosed with Stage 4S Neuroblastoma.

Her parents didn’t know what the future would hold.

“We worried we would only get one birthday with our girl,” says her mom, Kelly.

After the diagnosis came hospital stays, chemo, and long days that most kids never face. Melody even learned to walk holding onto an IV pole. But despite every challenge thrown her way, her mom remembers one thing clearly:

“Melody smiled day in and day out.”

Today, Melody is a teenager who likes cars and bold colors like black, purple, and red. She loves people, and she’s already dreaming big about her future.

She wants to be a PICU nurse one day, caring for kids in the hospital just like others once cared for her.

This year marks twelve years since Melody was declared No Evidence of Disease. But for childhood cancer survivors, the end of treatment is often just the beginning of a lifelong journey.

For most of her life, Melody has grown up with the Austin Hatcher Foundation by her family’s side.

She’s been part of Space Camp, STEAM Club, Teen Nights, and Car Builds, and has received transformative services like tutoring support and recreational therapy, where she’s growing her skills in time management and emotional expression to this day.

But for Melody, the Foundation is all about belonging.

“Spending time at Austin Hatcher has helped me with everything — meeting other people who’ve been down the same road who actually understand. Getting therapy and help with school, from people who understand chemo brain.”

Outside of AHF, she says, making friends can feel harder.

“It’s easier to make friends here… because we all share the same experience. I know this place like the back of my hand, and I know I can always be myself when I’m here.”

That’s what support looks like when it never expires.

It looks like a baby who learned to walk with an IV pole growing into a teenager with confidence and purpose. It looks like support that evolves from early childhood through the school years to teen life. It looks like a family that will never have to navigate survivorship alone.

Now, Melody is eager to pay it forward. She is stepping up as an advocate and mentor for younger children with cancer, determined to help other families find the same steady support through the Austin Hatcher Foundation.

As her mom, Kelly, proudly declares: “Watch out, world. She has huge dreams and a passion to fulfill them all!”

Melody’s story proves that when care grows with a family and support lasts a lifetime, hope doesn't end with treatment.