Meet Sienna: 2022 Family Advocacy Day Champion

Sienna is participating in Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day from June 12-14. Through this event, Sienna and her family will discuss her health journey, CHOC Children’s role in providing her with necessary health care services, and why the public and our elected officials must invest in the future of patients like Sienna.

Sienna was born with Down syndrome and needed extra care from specialists at CHOC Children’s. Her doctors were concerned with possible thyroid issues, so Sienna was referred to a neurologist for regular monitoring in case of blood cancers and thyroid issues.

When Sienna was two and half years old, she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. “The diagnosis was very emotional for our family,” says Rubi Sienna’s mother.  “We were full of many fears and anxiety around her health survival rate, but we also found ourselves learning as much as we could about AML and chemotherapy to ensure that she received the best possible care.”

Sienna’s treatment required her to be admitted to CHOC for the first eight months of care, then she returned for outpatient care for regular treatments for the next two years post-chemo. “Her oncology team has been key in helping us provide the best care to meet her needs,” says Rubi.

Then, when Sienna was three years old, she suffered a bilateral patellar dislocation of the knee and needed two surgeries. 

Today, Sienna is six years old and loves to dance. Her AML is in remission and she continues to see her oncologist for regular checkups.