Mom recalls childhood cancer battle while daughter fights her own

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - A 3-year-old girl and her mother have a bond that goes beyond family ties - they've both battled cancer.

Jacquelyn Grimes said she knew something was wrong with her daughter, Chloe during a family Christmas celebration.

The little girl was having a hard time breathing. So her mom took her to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.

"We went to the hospital on Christmas Eve night and it went down hill from there", said Jacquelyn.

Chloe was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. Her doctor, Damon Reed said a large tumor occupied about half of Chloe's chest.

"Many doctors were feverishly working around to figure out the safe way to manage her next couple minutes or hours," Dr. Reed recalled.

Chloe had a tough recovery.

"She was having seizures, she was having sweats, screaming in pain all night," Jacquelyn said.

She understood her daughter's pain. She also went through cancer as a child.

"I remember coming later in life and having scans and having MRIs on my kidneys," Jacquelyn said.

Now, she is glad her daughter is winning her battle against this awful disease.

"She is doing wonderful. She's full of life", said Jacquelyn.