Redmond 6-year-old fighting cancer for a second time, in need of bone marrow donor

Bone marrow drive to help Journey on April 30

(Update: Adding video, comments from Journey's mother, Jennifer Marino)

REDMOND, Ore (KTVZ) -- Six-year-old Journey Marino is no ordinary Redmond girl.

Sure, her favorite character is a Disney princess -- Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, to be exact, and just about all of her things come in her favorite colors, pink and purple.

But, she’s also incredibly brave, as she fights leukemia -- again.

“She knows that she has cancer, she knows that she’s sick and her tummy hurts, and she can’t do what other kids can do," Journey's mother, Jennifer Marino, said Wednesday.

Known for being spunky, silly and determined, the Redmond girl started battling leukemia at the age of two, and after two years of treatment, she returned to good health.

But this past January, she relapsed, and has lost a lot of her hair because of it.

"I know when she sees like a St. Jude commercial with those kids on there, that she kind of identifies herself with them like, ‘Oh, I look like them! I also don’t have hair!'" Marino said.

Journey is constantly strapped to an IV bag that runs 24/7 and started the second phase of her cancer immunotherapy Wednesday.

In the wake of cancer's return, she also contracted a rare type of yeast infection, which is delaying chemotherapy treatment, since her immunity is already in a weakened state.

To keep her strong, she's taking various medications, and wears a feeding tube so she doesn't continue to lose too much weight.

She is currently in need of a donor for a bone marrow transplant, and her family is asking for help.

"They said that this is our best chance of getting a cure for her cancer," Marino said.

But with her big and spunky personality, Journey is undeterred from her life of "royalty."

“She has always been a princess -- she just loves dressing up," Jennifer said. "She has many, many costumes, to the point I had to hide some. She’s very fun, outgoing, very girly, loves makeup.”

Marino said she’s doing her best to stay optimistic.

"It’s a lot, it’s overwhelming and it’s scary," she said.

Even so, she made it known that along with her friends and family, one more thing keeps her grounded.

"I have a faith that I think that’s kind of helping carry through," Jennifer said.

A bone marrow donor drive, to help Journey and others, will take place on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Journey Church, 3732 SW 21st Place in Redmond.

For more information, contact Marino at  jennmarino1015@icloud.com and visit www.dkms.org.