Adelynn Strong: Family's Promise Carries Girl Through Leukemia Treatment

As Adelynn’s father, Chris Taylor, held up a bracelet reading “Adelynn Strong” for her to cut at her bell-ringing ceremony, tears streamed down their faces. Chris had worn the bracelet since the early days of her cancer diagnosis, and with friends, family and her care team surrounding her, cutting it marked the end of more than two years of treatment for the 7 year old.

“I told her one day she was going to beat cancer and cut the bracelet off me. It symbolized her breaking the chains of this sickness and finally being set free of it. It’s a bonding moment with her I’ll never forget,” says Chris.

“It was a lot of emotions,” reflects Adelynn Taylor, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at 4 years old.

Adelynn’s health journey began in November 2023, when she started experiencing symptoms that seemed like a stubborn virus.

“Adelynn wasn’t really getting any relief from the typical cold meds, and she just kept getting weaker,” says Adelynn’s mom, Linda Taylor.

Linda first took her daughter to a local urgent care, where doctors recommended a course of over-the-counter medications to see if her symptoms improved. But as Adelynn's condition worsened, Linda quickly realized something more serious was going on.

“Adelynn yelled for me from her room one day, saying she wasn’t able to get out of bed or walk. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just a virus going around,” says Linda.

Adelynn’s family then took her to the pediatric emergency department at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital. Lab testing showed her hemoglobin level was dangerously low. So much so she needed a blood transfusion and was ultimately transferred to Cleveland Clinic Children’s main campus in Cleveland, Ohio.

“That’s where we got the actual diagnosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It was a whirlwind of emotions when we found out – just really trying to process what this would look like for her and our family moving forward,” says Linda.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a fast-growing blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside the bones where blood cells are made. It mainly affects children ages 2 to 5, but adults can get it, too. There are different types depending on which white blood cells are affected. In Adelynn’s case, her cancer affected the B cells that help the body make antibodies and fight infection.

“B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common type, accounting for about 85% of childhood cases,” says Cleveland Clinic Children’s pediatric hematologist-oncologist Ilia Buhtoiarov, MD.

For treatment, Adelynn underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. While chemotherapy uses medications to destroy cancer cells, immunotherapy works a little differently.

“Immunotherapy engages the patient’s own immune system, directing T cells – an important type of white blood cell responsible for identifying and removing abnormal cells – to find and eliminate leukemia cells,” says Dr. Buhtoiarov.

Adelynn was treated using several forms of chemotherapy, including intravenous (IV) chemotherapy delivered through a port implanted in her chest, allowing the medication to travel directly into her bloodstream and throughout her body to attack cancer cells. She also received intrathecal chemotherapy, which is delivered via a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), to prevent leukemia cells from reaching her brain and spinal cord. Later, as maintenance therapy, she took daily oral chemotherapy pills. Mixed throughout these cycles of chemotherapy were her immunotherapy treatments, which involved using a small portable pump connected to her chest port to steadily deliver medication for about a month.

“Throughout the ups and downs of treatment, Adelynn was still the happy little girl she’s always been. Her care team would always tell us how fun she was to be around. The nurses lit up every time they saw her,” says Linda, who added Adelynn performed a song alongside a music therapist for nurses on her floor during National Nurses Week.

After more than two-and-a-half years of treatment, Adelynn received clear scans and is in remission from her cancer. On July 13, 2026, she rang the Bravery Bell at Cleveland Clinic Children’s to celebrate.

"Watching her run to that bell with so many people cheering her on was worth every ounce of hurt we all had to witness. She went through things I wish no child ever had to go through. But this little girl has more strength than anyone I know and has overcome it all,” says Linda.

“It felt like that day was never going to come, and we were overwhelmed by everyone from her care team and the community who came to support her. There were so many people who stepped up to help us, and we’re so grateful for that,” says Chris.

Adelynn’s doctors will continue to monitor her to ensure her cancer remains in remission. Adelynn, now in the 1st grade, says math is her favorite subject – aside from recess, of course. And with more than two years of treatment behind her, she’s getting back to the things she loves from competitive cheer to pageants. Dr. Buhtoiarov and Adelynn’s family hope her journey inspires others to be “Adelynn Strong.”

“Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer, and while we still don’t know why some children develop it, advancements in treatment mean most childhood leukemias are curable. While the word leukemia is a scary one, it’s important to know there’s hope,” says Dr. Buhtoiarov.

“As parents, we sometimes don’t realize how resilient our kids truly are. Adelynn amazes me every day with her courage, and I strive to be as brave as she is,” says Chris.