One source defines a hero as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Today’s society throws the term hero around loosely at times, giving the title to sports stars, actors and other celebrities. However, those real heroes exist. One such person walks the halls of John Cotten Tayloe Elementary School in Washington nearly every day the building is open.

Alessia Hassell, now 10 years old, has seen more in her young lifetime than many will in a lifetime. If she is a hero, her sidekick would be her mom, Shontae Hassell. The older Hassel explains where their journey began.

“Alessia was 5 when she was diagnosed with bone cancer,” the young mother shook her head. “I fell apart and it was my daughter who tells me, ‘Everything is going to be alright.’” A tumor was discovered during the treatment of a fracture from a trampoline accident.

The pint-sized super hero sat smiling as Mom began telling their story. She is known for that smile all over school.

“We spent years in and out of Duke Hospital and she is now two years in remission.” Remission is something to be celebrated, however; the chemotherapy left a lasting mark on this young body — congestive heart failure. This discovery meant more time at Duke.

“On Jan. 23 of this year Alessia had an LVAD put in,” her Mom explained.

The left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, is a kind of mechanical heart. It’s placed inside a person’s chest, where it helps the heart pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Unlike an artificial heart, the LVAD doesn’t replace the heart.

“This is to carry her until she can get a new heart,” Hassell said.

Alessia remained in the hospital from Dec. 23, 2014 until March 19, 2015. Their stay in Durham continued at the Ronald McDonald House another three months.

“There were times we did not know if she would make it,” Shontae explained. “She’s something.”

While at Duke, the younger Hassell kept up schoolwork as much as her health would allow with the hospital school program. Earlier this year, Alessia’s Duke teacher, child life specialist and nurse practitioner spent time at John Cotten Tayloe Elementary School to help train school staff on how to best help their returning student. It was training the staff gladly attended.

“They (the school) want to know how to help,” Shontae said with a big smile.

Hassell feels fortunate to have a familiar face in her corner during the struggle to keep life as normal as possible for Alessia. Bubs Carson, the principal of John Cotten Tayloe Elementary School was her principal a few years back.

“They are all wonderful,” she said.

“That’s what we are here for,” explained Carson. “We are here for every student and all the challenges they may face, no matter how unique. … To talk to her and her Mom, you’d think she had just been out with strep or something. They are pretty amazing.”

The 10-year old came back to school at the opening of the year, staying only a half-day for now. Due to changes in medication and other circumstances, Shontae attends school with Alessia every day. For a single mom, things are not easy. However, Alessia introduced their arsenal of support, which includes multiple grandparents, their school family and their church family.

Alessia lights up when talking about her Granddaddy.

“He’s my hero,” she said. And her Grandmother, “That’s my heart.” But her all-time hero, “my mom.”

So, what does this young lady want people to learn from her story?

“You have to fight for yourself.” Take it from Alessia, she’s speaking from experience.