It started with a sore knee. Ava was 17, a senior at Bishop Manogue High School in Reno. She played soccer for all four years. Fast, focused, and competitive.
So, when her knee started to ache, she figured it was nothing serious. Probably a torn meniscus. She wrapped it and kept playing.
After the season ended, she got an X-ray. The results came fast. A tumor was visible, growing through the bone. Days later, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer.
Ava started chemotherapy at Renown Children’s Hospital the week before Christmas. Her treatment followed a five-week cycle: she received chemo during the first week, took two weeks off to recover, then returned for two more weeks of treatment before starting the next cycle. She lost her hair. She walked on crutches. Some days were harder than others.
But Ava was focused on the life waiting beyond treatment. “I never wanted cancer to stop me,” she said. Ava went to prom. She walked at graduation. She did all the things high school seniors are supposed to do. All while fighting cancer.
“Dr. Zucker told me it was important to keep living my life,” Ava said. “He asked what mattered to me and made sure my treatment plan supported it.” Dr. Jacob Zucker is a pediatric oncologist at Renown Children’s Hospital and was Ava’s lead physician throughout her cancer treatment.
Halfway through treatment, Ava underwent major surgery to remove the remaining tumor. Part of her femur was removed and replaced with a cadaver bone. Dr. Zucker and her care team were there every step of the way, making sure Ava had what she needed to recover from surgery and keep going with her cancer treatment.
Renown Children’s Hospital works closely with pediatric specialists locally and nationwide to support care that’s highly coordinated and comprehensive. For families in northern Nevada and surrounding communities, these partnerships help expand access to advanced procedures while keeping care close to home.
“Eight years ago, we would have had to move to get this level of pediatric cancer care,” said Stephanie Woodard, Ava’s mom. “Now Renown Children’s Hospital has that here. And Dr. Zucker was with us every step of the way, sometimes even meeting us at the ER late at night to make sure Ava was okay.”
Because of that support, and because of Dr. Zucker, Ava stayed in Reno. She stayed close to school. And to home.
By August, her scans showed no sign of cancer. Only one round of chemo remained. Exhausted, Ava wanted to stop, but she trusted Dr. Zucker and completed her treatment.
Soon after, she moved into her dorm at the University of Nevada, Reno. After nearly a year on crutches, one night she left them behind. “I just wanted to feel human again,” Ava said. “To get back to life.”
Through every step, Ava’s family, friends, and care team were there. “The children’s unit, especially oncology, is a special place,” Ava said. “The nurses see it. They get it. It makes a difference.” One of them, Nurse Haley, a cancer survivor herself, was a constant support. “I leaned on her and she lifted me up when I needed it,” said Ava.
Asked what she would tell another teen facing cancer, Ava said, “It doesn’t have to define you. It’s happening to you, but it’s not everything. Live your life. Be an advocate.”
July is Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month. Ava’s story is a powerful reminder. Persistent pain like a sore knee, deserves attention. Early detection matters. Expert care changes everything. Click here to learn more about children’s oncology and hematology at Renown Children's Hospital.
Every child deserves access to expert care close to home. Thanks to the generosity of our community, families like Ava’s can receive advanced pediatric cancer treatment right here in northern Nevada.
Philanthropic support helps Renown Children’s Hospital grow and expand specialty care—bringing in experts like Dr. Jacob Zucker and keeping care coordinated and local, so families don’t have to travel far during challenging times.
Together, we can ensure more kids get the care they need without leaving the place they call home. Join us in making a difference. Visit renown.org/donate or call 775-982-5545.
