Sofiabstrong

03/02/2026

03/02/2026

🧧 Happy Lunar New Year! ❤️

A few weeks ago, Sofia celebrated at school and it was such a special day. Every grade performed, and the kids absolutely crushed the dancing! It was so fun to see the mix of traditional and modern performances, and the energy they brought. (Videos in next post)

We’re also constantly impressed by how smart her classmates are. Her school sets the bar high, and it shows.

Sofia is doing well and continues to go in for her monthly follow-up treatments and monitoring. We’re grateful she’s able to keep learning, celebrating, and just being a kid in between those appointments.

01/30/2026

A few days ago, our accounts were finally restored — and I want to say thank you.
But I also want to be honest about what this experience revealed.

On Meta platforms — Facebook and Instagram — an automated system removed a fundraising and awareness page supporting a child with cancer, along with my personal and business accounts. There was no human review. No context. No ability to explain. Just an algorithm deciding, unilaterally, that a family’s support system could disappear.

That is not just a technical issue. It’s an ethical one.

Sofia’s page exists so Janaye Powers, as a mother, could share her daughter’s cancer journey. Janaye shared the photos and words with me so I could post on her behalf — because communicating with everyone while caring for a child with leukemia was often too heavy to manage alone. This page allowed her to keep loved ones informed, to document treatment and recovery, and to feel supported during the hardest moments.

When that page vanished, so did a vital lifeline — not because it was wrong, but because no human was involved at all.

What’s especially troubling is that there is no meaningful human safeguard in place. People’s lives, communities, and medical support systems can be removed instantly, with no review, no accountability, and no urgency — unless you happen to know the right people.

And that’s the part that should concern all of us.

What ultimately fixed this wasn’t the system — it was people.

I am endlessly grateful to everyone who stepped up, shared contacts, and advocated when the platforms wouldn’t. Thank you to my cousin Tim, my boyfriend Patrick, Chris, Madeline, Karina, and especially Blood Cancer United (LLS) — whose Meta representative was able to intervene and resolve this. That human involvement made all the difference.

This experience made one thing painfully clear:
When technology operates without empathy or accountability, people pay the price — especially families already navigating unimaginable hardship.

Thank you to everyone who helped protect a space that means everything to a mother and her child. 🤍

Sofiabstrong forever ❤️

-Cristina

12/18/2025

🎄 The holidays feel a little different for us this year.

While Sofia is done with chemo, she’s still in ongoing care — regular appointments, medications, and long-term follow-up to support her body after everything it’s been through.

Alongside that are the ongoing medical costs of a couple years that changed our family completely. With Christmas coming up (and already next week) support in any form truly helps us more than we can say. ❤️💚 ❤️💚

If you’re able to help or even just share, we’re truly grateful.

🔗 https://tr.ee/11dNS6r4Fv

Thank you for continuing to support Sofia and our family 🤍

—Janaye

11/15/2025

💛 Celebrate Sofia at Light the Night TONIGHT!

Today. Saturday, November 15, 2025, join us for a very special Light the Night & Ring the Bell Party as Sofia completes her cancer treatments! Let’s light up the night and celebrate her strength together. 🌟

🎟️Ticket: People in the private party have been added individually, but if you’re not sure you can always register (link in bio too):
https://registration.lightthenight.org/event-selected/189514/team-selected/944060

📍 Location:
American Legion Memorial Stadium
1218-1238 Armory Dr., Charlotte, NC 28204

When you get down into the field, look for Sofia’s own personal tent.

🕓 Event Schedule:
• 4:30 PM – Event begins
• 5:00 PM – Princess Surprise for Sofia
• 6:00 PM – Gary, Sofia & Janaye onstage
• 6:15 PM – Everyone walks with lanterns ✨

👕 Dress for the occasion:
We’d love for everyone to wear a SofiaBstrong t-shirt or sweatshirt for the weekend—especially for Light the Night! If you don’t have a T-shirt, please wear light pink or baby blue!

🚗 Parking Info:
• Stadium parking lot and garage available
• Additional parking on Armory Dr. + streets
• Please allow extra time to park

Let’s come together to celebrate Sofia, her journey, and all those impacted by blood cancers. 💖

Ring the bell, light your lantern, and be part of this unforgettable night!

11/14/2025

✨ Today is the day. ✨
At around 11:45 AM, Sofia will ring her bell — the moment that marks the end of her active chemotherapy. 🧡

For two years this little girl has fought through chemo, transfusions, spinal taps, steroids, hospital stays, mouth sores, pain, fear, and more strength than most adults ever have to find. Today, she gets to stand in front of her care team and ring the bell that says: I did it. I made it through.

Ringing the bell means no more chemo. No more port. No more constant procedures. But it’s important to say this too: this doesn’t mean it’s over. Sofia will still have regular hospital visits, labs, and follow-up appointments to make sure her numbers stay stable and that her body continues to recover the way it should. It’s a new chapter — just not the end of the story.

Even with that, today is a massive, emotional milestone for Sofia and her family. If you have a second, send them all the love this morning. 🧡🧡🧡

11/03/2025

✨ Today’s a huge milestone! Sofia is having surgery to remove her port 🧡

For almost two years, this small device under her skin has been how doctors delivered every chemo treatment, transfusion, and medication. It sits in her upper chest, connected to a large vein that leads straight to her heart — that’s how the medicine could flow safely through her bloodstream during treatment. It’s been her lifeline through hundreds of hospital visits and procedures.

Now that she’s nearing the end of active treatment, she doesn’t need it anymore. That means no more needle pokes into her chest, no more port flushes, and one big step closer to ringing that bell.

The surgery itself is pretty quick, about 30 to 45 minutes, but it’s done under anesthesia. The surgeon will make a small incision, remove the port and the thin catheter that runs to the vein, then close it with dissolvable stitches. She’ll be sore for a few days, but recovery is usually smooth.

Please send Sofia all your good thoughts and prayers for an easy procedure and recovery today. 🧡

This is such a big day for Sofia and her family. Every milestone like this means she’s winning this fight.

10/29/2025

We're running a promotion for Sofia's "Shine Like Sofia" merch for 15% OFF. Use code SOFIA25. There's more color options and styles, just click the link and check it out. 🛍️ 👇💞https://www.bonfire.com/shine-like-sofia-fights-leukemia/

Want all proceeds going straight to Sofia's family to help pay medical bills and expenses? They haven't met their goal and could use your help. 🙏 Go to their GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/sofiab-strong-help-us-fight-leukemia