By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—Before she was diagnosed with cancer, Kenna Parramore was a “normal, very healthy 2-year-old,” her mother Kelli Parramore said. Then she came down with an ear infection that wouldn’t get better.

“(The doctors) sent us to Children’s Hospital. Five hours later, they were pretty sure it was leukemia,” Kelli Parramore said.

Kenna Parramore was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia on June 19. Since then, she has been undergoing aggressive treatment.

“It’s an aggressive type of cancer, and the treatment is aggressive as well,” Kelli Parramore said.

Kenna Parramore goes through regular sessions of between five and seven days of chemotherapy, followed by a recovery period at the hospital while her white blood cell count returns to normal levels, Kelli Parramore explained.

“Some days are better than others for sure,” Kelli Parramore said. “Some types of chemo just make her feel bad… it’s hard to see her like that.”

The community has worked to help out, support and raise awareness about Kenna Parramore’s fight against leukemia. Her school, Covenant Classical School of Pelham, held a Vendor Bazaar on Sept. 13 to benefit the Parramore family.

“We’re overwhelmed with gratitude and really just proud to be part of the community,” Kelli Parramore said. “We’ve had so many friends who have helped us out personally.”

However, the Parramore family also hopes to raise awareness about childhood cancer of all kinds, not just leukemia.

“Our goal is to… get the message out there,” Kelli Parramore said, noting that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. “You learn a lot when your life gets turned upside down.”

For more information about the Parramore family and Kenna Parramore’s fight against leukemia, visit Facebook.com/prayingforkenna.