Mile 32

At 16 years old, Sa’Mya’s life took a terrifying turn. In March 2025, she was rushed to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge after noticing something was seriously wrong. The hours that followed felt surreal—Sa’Mya was unresponsive, connected to machines, her organs beginning to shut down. With her kidneys failing, Dr. Alexandra Broadnax referred Sa’Mya to Manning Family Children’s for the advanced care that she needed, and she was flown that day to New Orleans.​

At Manning Family Children’s, Sa’Mya was admitted to the PICU. Her condition was so critical there were moments with no brain activity. But answers finally came when she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Her father stopped working so he could stay by her side through the uncertainty. A dedicated team of specialists, oncologists, and hematologists immediately began aggressive treatment. Sa’Mya endured intense chemotherapy, supported by a compassionate group of nurses she and her family lovingly call the “Chemo Queens.” Despite the hard days of medication withdrawals and became delirium, Sa’Mya remained strong and resilient. ​

With the right care team and the right treatment plan, Sa’Mya’s journey turned a corner in the most remarkable way. After nearly three months in the hospital and being uprooted from home, she was finally discharged on May 30. Her care team was amazed at how quickly she bounced back. Today, she’s still receiving infusions but feeling strong and optimistic. Sa’Mya continues to defy expectations—and her strength is nothing short of inspiring.