Mother recounts Aspen’s brave fight from flu-like illness to hospice and loss at 6

Kiersten Peterson’s daughter Aspen was diagnosed with stage 4 rhabdomyosarcoma at age 4 after flu-like symptoms, relocating to Boston for aggressive treatment and achieving remission for about 10 months before relapse spread to her lungs and lymph nodes. Aspen endured more chemotherapy, was placed on hospice in 2025, and died on March 3, 2026, at age 6. Peterson describes trying to keep Aspen's life normal, the support from family, friends, and online communities, and the heartbreak of watching her fade away, while urging other parents to spend time with their kids and hold onto faith. A viral February 2026 video highlighted Aspen’s enduring spirit during her illness.