Summer’s Story

On December 21, 2017, Summer was diagnosed with cancer at age 3. In the months leading up to this, Summer’s parents, Matt and Jessica Cernoch, noticed several symptoms, such as irritability, insomnia, bruises, pallor, and a persistent cough. Due to the cough, she was initially diagnosed with bronchitis, and all other symptoms were explained away as normal. Soon after, she was diagnosed with pneumonia, but Summer’s mother knew in her heart that she was dealing with something far worse. Summer’s health rapidly declined, and she became lethargic and tachycardic, and she developed petechia and swollen lymph nodes. At this point, her parents demanded a blood test. Results confirmed that Summer had been fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a blood cancer, and the most common form of childhood cancer. Since her diagnosis came just 4 days before Christmas, Summer spent the holiday at INOVA Fairfax Hospital. Santa came to see her, but Christmas certainly wasn’t merry or bright. During her 10-day hospital admission, she received blood transfusions, chemo, high-dose steroids, a spinal tap, and port placement surgery. Summer spent over 2 years fighting cancer. During her 795 days of treatment, she endured 2 bone marrow aspirations, 2 surgeries, 19 lumbar punctures, 10 blood transfusions, 79 port chemos, and a countless number of chemo pills. Her journey hasn’t been easy, but her story is one of joy and triumph! She is now 8 years old, in remission, and doing well! When asked how she’d like to celebrate the completion of treatment, Summer said that she wanted to set off fireworks and start a nonprofit to help other children battling cancer. The night she took her last chemo pill, the Cernoch family lit up the sky with fireworks, and several months later, the Summer Grace Foundation was established in her honor.