Deja Moo Celebrates Cora Fuller’s Victory Over Cancer with Community Blood Drive

What began as a family stop for ice cream became a place of comfort, community and hope for one White House family during the fight of their lives.

Now, after more than two years of treatment, hospital stays and countless moments of uncertainty, the community is preparing to celebrate 6-year-old Cora Fuller and the incredible milestone she has reached — officially finishing cancer treatment.

Cora was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on January 12, 2024, launching her family into a journey they never expected. “It’s been a long road,” Cora’s mom, Katie shared. “Treatment went as well as it possibly could have, but there were definitely hiccups along the way.”

Over the course of 27 months of treatment, Cora endured lengthy hospital stays, dangerously low blood counts, 13 blood transfusions and 14 platelet transfusions — lifesaving support that became a regular part of her battle.

Still, through every challenge, Cora continued fighting with remarkable strength and on April 21, she celebrated a major milestone by ringing the bell at the clinic, symbolizing the end of her final chemotherapy infusion. While she still had a short period of treatment remaining afterward, it marked her last clinic day and a moment her family knew deserved celebration.

Cora officially completed all treatment on May 7th. Now, to honor that victory, the community is invited to celebrate Cora during a special event hosted by local favorite Deja Moo on Sunday, June 7.

For Cora’s family, the event is about much more than a party. “We really want to celebrate Cora and her finishing treatment,” Katie said. “But we also want to give back to the foundations and people who supported us through all of this.”

That desire to give back is deeply personal. Throughout Cora’s treatment, blood and platelet donations became critical to her survival. Seeing firsthand how many children rely on transfusions opened the family’s eyes to the constant need for donors. “There are kids sitting in Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital getting blood and platelets right now,” she said. “These are lifesaving transfusions.”

As part of the celebration, a community blood drive will be held in Cora’s honor, giving others the opportunity to help patients currently fighting cancer and other serious illnesses.

The blood drive will take place from 11am to 3pm on Sunday, June 7th, outside of Deja Moo. Cora’s celebration itself will run from noon to 2pm, and the public is invited to attend.

For Cora’s family, the event is also a chance to thank a community that surrounded them with love during some of their hardest days. Even during periods when Cora was immunocompromised, the family would still stop by Deja Moo, picking up ice cream and sitting in the car to enjoy a small sense of normalcy. 

“It has been incredible to see so many people wrap us in love and take care of us,” Katie said. Now, as Cora enters a new chapter beyond treatment, her family hopes the celebration serves as both a joyful milestone and a reminder of how powerful community support can be.

“This platform is something we never wanted to be on,” she said. “But now that we are, we want to use it to raise awareness and help others however we can.”

On June 7th, that awareness will come in the form of ice cream, hugs, celebration, and lifesaving blood donations that could help another child continue their own fight.