Community organizes grand “welcome home event” for local 7-year-old who beat cancer

HOOPA VALLEY, Calif. (KIEM)-It was all smiles over the weekend in Hoopa Valley – after one of their youngest members returned home, after 7 months of treatment, while at the  Family House which serves as a home away from home for families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses

An inspiring story about seven-year-old Cienna McKinnon, who battled stage three large B cell lymphoma and after months of surgeries , chemo treatments, blood draws and scans, she is now cancer free.

A video of Cienna, better known as Cici, shows her ringing the bell to mark the end of her battle with cancer.

She returned home Saturday from San Francisco- escorted by the Hoopa Valley Tribal Police, Hoopa Volunteer Fire and the Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District’s Safety Officer.

Hundreds from the Hoopa community – ranging from friends to extended family, and teachers lined Highway-96 with signs, and tears of joy, to welcome Cici back to her community – after her long battle with cancer, her first stop was at her Uncle Walter’s home.

“She’s been gone for so long, we just missed her so much you know, to have our community come out and just like, a phenomenal fashion,” said Walter Gray. “It’s like unbelievable how much love poured out of Hoopa.”

CiCi had no idea she’d get just a grand welcome home – Her family says, they’re overwhelmed and thankful for all the support they’ve received from their community.