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Photographer arranges beautiful photo shoot for teen battling brain cancer

Posted at 11:20 AM, Sep 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-02 13:49:26-04

AVON, Ohio-- A 14-year-old Mayfield Heights girl isn't letting cancer put a damper on her princess spirit.

Kayla Radicella-Hoover was diagnosed with anaplastic ependymoma brain cancer in 2012. She had surgery to remove a golf-ball size tumor, and was hospitalized for months for radiation and physical therapy. Two years later, doctors discovered another tumor on her spine.

Through the help of the Cleveland Clinic and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, more tumors were removed, but they kept coming back.

A few weeks ago, local photographer Ashley Legg-Sotomayor was tagged in a Facebook post about turning Kayla into a princess for a day.

"I feel like it was fate that had someone even think to tag me of all the local photographers to help this young lady with her princess session. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to have met this young lady and her family," Legg-Sotomayor said.

She found other area businesses to make the dream come true. Kayla had her hair and makeup professionally done, rode in a limo, and wore a couture gown.

"I've never seen someone so positive and happy in my life," Legg-Sotomayor said. "It's just amazing when people come together what we can accomplish."

The teen's mother and little sister even joined Kayla for a few pictures.

The photos were taken at the sunflower field in Avon, which was created by children's cancer foundation Prayers From Maria. It's named after 7-year-old Maria McNamara, who passed away from a terminal brain tumor in 2007.

To find out how you can help Kayla and her family, click here.