OTTUMWA, Iowa (KYOU) - Each of the beads is special for Hazel Smith, as the two-year-old is battling leukemia. Each bead represents a milestone in her treatment.

Hazel’s mom, Cheyenne Smith, still remembers that first one. When they diagnosed her little girl.

“The numbers look 50/50 were going to sedate and test her for leukemia. So completely out of left field for what we thought.” said Smith.

It’s an all-too-familiar story for Athena Rukgaber when she met Hazel’s parents.

“I met Skylar dad of Hazel. And it kind of just hit home, I myself am cancer survivor,” said Rukgaber. “I said I want to help out. I want to do something. I need to help. And I call it my God gut.“

That something more has turned into ‘Hazel’s Day’. Designed to be a day of fun and support With games, food trucks, ve

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