Grace Markos, 8, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Topsfield, with Stephanie (mom), Mike (dad), George (brother, 11), and Scotty (brother, 6)

Grace was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in October 2022. She had always been full of spunk and energy, ready to perform a song and dance at the drop of a hat. Her parents noticed that she had been particularly tired and lethargic, which wasn't her usual self. They thought she might have mono or Lyme disease, so they took her to the doctor, but tests revealed she had ALL. She is on a two-year chemotherapy treatment plan, of which she is in the middle. ALL is the most common type of childhood cancer. It most often occurs in children ages 3 to 5 and affects slightly more boys than girls. About 3,000 people younger than age 20 are found to have ALL each year in the United States.