HAMBURG, N.Y. — A story of survival and hope, as a Hamburg toddler battles a rare form of cancer.

It's the story of Scarlett's journey, and her unique connection to a Frewsburg woman she’s never met.

"Noticed a bump on her arm, it was quite large," said Mandy Kiera of Hamburg.

Twenty-two month-old Scarlett Kiera of Hamburg was only 15-months old at the time her mom Mandy says that bump was the size of a ping-pong ball.

After trips to the pediatrician and then to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Mandy and her husband Jason got the news no parent ever wants to hear.

"'Your daughter has cancer.' And I kind of just sat back and was like, what? And she repeated it twice, and I kind of, at that point, I kind of shut down a little bit," said Kiera.

"If you didn't see that she was bald, and you didn't know about her arm, and didn't see her arm, with it being red from radiation, you probably wouldn't be able to tell she had cancer. That's how, that's how upbeat she is," her father Jason said.

Scarlett was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancerous tumor that forms in a child's soft tissue.

Jason has been with her every step of the way during the highs and lows of her treatment, seeing firsthand what can happen when cancer gets aggressive.

"Between blood transfusions, getting platelets, and white cell counts, and fevers and stuff like that. We've been doing a lot of visiting to the hospital, a lot of overnight stays," said Jason.

"God bless you, Scarlett. It was scary. And I'm fine," said Jill Swanson of Frewsburg.

Swanson, 76, was 15 when she noticed a bump on her leg. It too was rhabdomyosarcoma and was cured with radiation and chemotherapy.

Back in 2000, several boxes fell on her leg at work and she now suffers with lymphedema, a swelling caused by the removal and damage of her lymph nodes.

"I do massage my leg and, where you're supposed to for your lymphedema. And I've been fine ever since," said Swanson.

So much so, she recently sent a letter Roswell, thanking the center for the care she received more than 60 years ago.

"Between that and God, I believe that, between those two, they saved my life. And I couldn't be any happier," said Swanson.

"So, it's pretty rare. Obviously, they're both very lucky. Both their stories are hopefully going to turn out the same and have great success," said Dr. Denise Rokitka, Roswell Park Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology.

Doctor Denise Rokitka is treating Scarlett and says out of the 15,000 children diagnosed with cancer every year, there are only 350 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma, and two at Roswell.

She says while there's not a lot of national funding for childhood cancer research, treatments have changed since the 1950s, including new chemotherapy drugs and better antibiotics.

"And now that we know more about the molecular genetics, we can predict how tumors are going to respond to chemotherapy and how best to treat them whether it be with radiation or surgery," said Dr. Rokitka.

Scarlett didn't need surgery and neither did Jill, who now enjoys swimming, golfing, quilting and crocheting.

She also has a special message for the little girl she's never met, yet shares a common thread.

"You'll be just fine. And I'm glad that I can help inspire you to get through this, because I know I did, and you will too," said Swanson.

After 33 days of radiation, Scarlett got to ring the bell at Roswell, signifying the end of her treatments.  

And while the tumor has shrunk considerably and her prognosis remains good, she'll still need two more chemotherapy cycles on her way to being cancer-free.

"It's truly amazing. Blessed, as to everybody who was out here," said Mandy.

The family also blessed to know, Jill is an inspiration to Scarlett.

"And it gives us so much hope. Feel like, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that our baby girl is going to be okay and be able to live her life," said Mandy.

For more information, check out Scarlett's GoFundMe page and a benefit raffle set for next month.