Girl's lemonade stand: 'I like to help people in need and kids with cancer'

Eight-year-old Anna Ciamarra walked into the Elmhurst Public Library wearing an Alex's Lemonade Stand T-shirt with a lemon-shaped purse slung over her shoulder.

There was an adult there to talk to her, but the Lombard girl was much more interested in playing with the Legos and puppets in the library's children's section.

Just like any 8-year-old.

But for a little girl with such little-girl tendencies, Anna's childhood has been anything but typical. Diagnosed with high-risk t-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age 5, she just finished chemotherapy in February.

So Anna and her family know all too much about cancer and the toll it can take. Which is why they've spent the past couple of years raising money - lots of money - for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, an organization that funds cancer research with the help of folks like Anna who operate neighborhood lemonade stands.

The foundation is named for Alex Scott, a girl who died in 2004 from neuroblastoma. She was just 8 years old.

Anna and her family know better than most what Alex went through. It's why they'll be operating their lemonade stand again on June 2.

Unexpected path

Anna was only three weeks into kindergarten when she was diagnosed. She had been struggling with a fever that wouldn't go away, and her mom, Ruth, decided to take her in for a checkup.

At first, the doctor thought Anna had mononucleosis. But after a trip to the children's hospital, Ruth learned her daughter was suffering from leukemia, with an extremely high white blood cell count.

"It was off-the-charts bad," Ruth said. "Since then, I've seen other families and they've shared their diagnosis levels. I have not seen many that have been that high."

The news came as a shock. Ruth could tell there was something wrong with Anna, but she never imagined it would be cancer.

"I couldn't even say the word 'cancer' for weeks," Ruth said. "It just did not seem real. It was somehow easier to say 'leukemia.'"

That very day, the doctors began treating Anna's illness, and her family had to learn the ropes very quickly.

"They were telling us about what kind of protocols to do, and how long it was going to take, what tests she needs, a lot of information in a short amount of time," said Anna's father, Tony. "We became experts really quickly."

They brought in child life specialists to explain the illness to Anna and show her what was happening to her body, but everyone was struggling to adjust.

"I was in the hospital the first couple days, but when I came home to get clothes and have a shower, it was so bizarre," Ruth said. "It was like everything had been before she left. She still had her 'Welcome to Kindergarten' picture on the fridge. It was just very emotional for me coming home that first time."

For the next 2½ years, Anna had to spend most of her time indoors at home or in the hospital. Family and friends from all over the country offered to help where they could.

"When you have the cards you're dealt, you just kind of have to make the most of them," Ruth said. "I think that's been our attitude as a family, too. We're just going to pull up our sleeves. We didn't get a choice, so we're just going to make the best of it."

Change of pace

Ruth discovered the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation through Momcology, an online community and social media presence that provides support for childhood cancer families.

She could tell Anna was bored at home and thought hosting a lemonade stand with her older sister, Claire, would be a distraction.

"It was pretty straightforward and simple, which is what I was looking for," Ruth said. "But what really attracted me was that … the girls could do it themselves."

Anna and Claire made signs and worked the stand together.

At the time, they didn't know how successful they might be. They started with a traditional stand in front of their house and a goal of raising $400. They wound up collecting $700 at the stand and another $1,300 through online donations.

"I think that really made Anna's day," Ruth said. "She stayed out there for way longer than I would have expected. … She would've stayed out there all day if she could have."

The next year, they teamed with Anna's school, Immaculate Conception in Elmhurst.

Anna, meanwhile, was chosen as a National Lemonade Day's Hero for the foundation, along with two kids from other parts of the country.

In addition to the lemonade stand and the online donations, the family this time held classroom competitions at her school to help raise money. They also decided to move the stand to outside the school.

"I was like, I want to make it big. I want to raise as much money as humanly possible," Ruth said. "Whatever it takes."

With a goal of raising $5,000, they collected about $15,000.

"In doing something as simple as the lemonade stand, we can really make a difference," Claire said. "It's a fun way to raise money, and you can just do lots of different ideas. You can design a stand and do all this stuff while raising money for kids like Anna who really need it."

The family will be manning the lemonade stand again this year, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 2, outside the school at 132 Arthur.

They also sponsored classroom competitions through last week and are collecting online donations at www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1439001.

Their goal is to raise $10,000.

In addition, Claire and one of her friends will sell bracelets at the stand, and there will be lawn games for kids.

The Ciamarras say they plan to make the stand an annual event. It has left a lasting impact on Anna, they say, and they hope to make a lasting impact on the foundation.

Positive experience

When Anna looks back on her battle, she doesn't think so much about the pain and the sickness. Instead, she focuses on the games she played with the people in the hospital, and of course, the lemonade.

"She had some scary moments in the hospital where they would bring in the rapid response team and where they thought her life was in danger," Ruth said. "To come from that to a place where she doesn't really remember the bad things, … to where she sees hospitals and cancer as maybe a positive experience, to me is just amazing."

She also says the foundation created a positive experience for Anna by allowing her to socialize with others and do something to help kids like her.

"I like to sell lemonade because I like to help people in need and kids with cancer," Anna said. "I also like to make people happy by giving them lemonade because I like it so much."

"She is a very tough little girl," father Tony said. "Everything she is told to do, she does without a single complaint. She's had to do things that most kids would never have to do their whole life … and actually most adults would never do in their whole life."

She's done something else, too. No 8-year-old should have to face what she's gone through, but for those who do, Anna has proved to be an inspiration.

"She feels like she's part of a warm and loving club of kids and families that want to make positive change," Ruth said. "And even if she doesn't come out and say those words, those grown-up words, she loves it. She loves putting on that lemonade shirt, wearing that lemonade purse and doing anything she can."

How you can help

What: Anna Ciamarra and her family host a lemonade stand to raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

When: 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, June 2

Where: Outside Immaculate Conception Grade School, 132 Arthur, Elmhurst

Online donations: www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1439001