MUSKEGON, Mich — "She kept strong and I was strong for her," said Tamya Hardimon, the mother of Muskegon 2-year-old Ayla Dior Hunter, who just beat stage four cancer
Their family celebrated Ayla being home and cancer-free on Saturday after spending six months at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital battling stage four Medulloblastoma cancer.
Around 50 cars gathered at nearby Oak Crest Church of God and paraded to Ayla's home, who smiled and waved as cars decorated with yellow balloons and streamers drove by, the sound of cheers and honking filled the neighborhood.
"We fought this battle together with all the prayers, family members, and we all just stuck together while she went through this," said Hardimon.
Hardimon said she took her daughter to the doctor after Ayla developed tremors and stopped walking.
After being admitted to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, doctors found a tumor in the back of Ayla's head.
13 ON YOUR SIDE learned in a previous interview that Ayla had brain surgery that lasted nine hours and then underwent chemo.
The family is thankful for the support of their friends and community members who donated and helped out in various ways.
"She ended up losing her job, and you know, she was struggling, her car went out right at the time Ayla had this operation, so going back and forth, getting her rides to Grand Rapids was a struggle for us, but with the grace of God, we made it we made it through," said Ayla's grandmother Tracy Malone.
When asked what kept them encouraged during this time, Hardimon said it was all thanks to her faith and the support of her community.
She said Ayla's road to recovery is still not over, as she will have to go through physical, occupational and speech therapy in the next few months.
"She'll be working with those people to get back to her playful, fun self to run around and catch her brother," said Hardimon.
Following the parade, attendees were invited inside the family's home for refreshments and to continue celebrating.
"Just wanted to thank everybody for all the prayers that they given us and all the donations that was given to us, you know, just something to celebrate her and celebrate the people that's been there supporting us," said Malone.
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