For Maizy and her family, the holidays carry deeper meaning.

In November 2023, what first appeared to be a routine ear infection quickly became something far more serious. After multiple doctor visits and imaging, Maizy was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia just days after Thanksgiving. She was only 2 years old.

Since that moment, Maizy and her family have been navigating a long and demanding journey — one filled with hospital stays, treatments and setbacks no family ever expects. Through it all, Maizy’s resilience has remained constant.

“What’s funny about Maizy and a lot of these kids facing cancer is that they really do have such a great spirit,” Maizy’s mom, Stefanie, said. “They’re just happy kids going through terrible things.”

Maizy’s treatment included an intensive early phase followed by a long maintenance period, with care shared between St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and the St. Jude Clinic at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. Early on, the demands of treatment were so significant that her family even considered relocating to Memphis to remain close to care.

Along the way, Maizy faced challenges that required her to relearn how to walk — not once, but twice. Over the course of treatment, she has undergone dozens of procedures, including repeated lumbar punctures that deliver chemotherapy to protect her brain and spinal cord.

Today, Maizy is in remission and continuing treatment in Huntsville. What makes the journey lighter, Stefanie said, is the compassionate care team surrounding them.

“To be able to drive 20 minutes from home and still receive that level of care was a blessing,” she said. “The staff make it so enjoyable. The kids look forward to going there.”

For Maizy’s family, the holiday season is closely tied to her diagnosis. While it can bring difficult memories, Stefanie said they've been focused on reclaiming this time of year through positive experiences as a family.

Each year, the St. Jude Clinic Christmas Party offers families in pediatric cancer treatment something they need most: an opportunity to simply have fun.

Made possible through the Crim Compassion Fund — and hosted by St. Jude Clinic staff — the annual celebration brings pediatric oncology, therapy and infusion patients and their families together for an evening focused not on treatment schedules or hospital rooms, but on joy.

This year’s celebration at Stars and Strikes welcomed 58 families and provided gifts for 130 children, including patients and their siblings. Gifts were thoughtfully shopped for and delivered by Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s Development Council, ensuring every child felt seen and celebrated.

“Last year was our first year attending the Christmas party, and it was so special,” Stefanie said. “It gave the kids a night where they could just celebrate and be normal kids. It was perfect for us.”

A defining part of the Crim Compassion Fund is its focus on the entire family, including siblings.

Maizy’s younger sister, Piper, has grown up alongside her sister’s treatment. She was just 10 months old when Maizy was diagnosed.

“When we got the Christmas gifts and Piper had some to open too, her face lit up,” Stefanie said. “She was the happiest girl in the world. It wasn’t just about Maizy, she got to be a part of it. That’s what the Crim Fund does. It makes both of them feel important and special.”

For families going through pediatric cancer, moments of joy are not small. They are essential.

Stefanie has a message for other parents and families walking the same path:

“The journey is long and hard, and you have to stay strong for your kids,” Stefanie said. “But you will get through the tough times that you have to watch your children go through, and in the end you will all be stronger for it.”

This holiday season, Maizy and Piper are doing what kids do best — laughing, playing and enjoying time together with their new toys from the Crim Compassion Fund, including a pretend makeup kit, a baby doll, a fairy catcher and a robot dog.

Thanks to generous donors, their family is creating joyful memories that will last far beyond the season.

“Maizy feels good and she truly is happy,” Stefanie said.