Photos: Azayliah Perez
The second installment in the new life of Azayliah Perez, who began public school with the third grade after battling Leukemia for most of her life.
Azayliah Perez
For Azayliah “Zay” Perez, right, the simple fun of horsing around in a pool has meaning far deeper than her new friends know. She’s lost friends to cancer one after another and worried she’d never be able to get close to someone. Happily, she was wrong about that.
Azayliah Perez
Zay enjoys a roller coaster with her mom, Desiree Mendoza, at a friend’s birthday party. Times like this are something Zay never takes for granted.
Azayliah Perez
Zay, right, makes a collage with friend and classmate Tavia Cailing during a class field trip to the Tucson Museum of Art. Tavia is one of three classmates with whom Zay has bonded strongly.
Azayliah Perez
Azayliah "Zay" Perez holds 1-year-old sister Airahlyse as she celebrates with family and friends for a birthday at Peter Piper Pizza, 5925 E. Broadway Blvd., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, in Tucson, Ariz. With leukemia treatments keeping her largely away from public settings as a child, forming friendships is somewhat of a new territory for the 9-year-old.
Azayliah Perez
Azayliah "Zay" Perez celebrates with family and friends, cousin Milliano, left, school friend Marianna Rascon and sister Khaylina for a birthday at Peter Piper Pizza, 5925 E. Broadway Blvd., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, in Tucson, Ariz. With leukemia treatments keeping her largely away from public settings as a child, forming friendships is somewhat of a new territory for the 9-year-old.
Azayliah Perez
Azayliah "Zay" Perez rides the bus during a class field trip to the Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave., on Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, in Tucson, Ariz.
Azayliah Perez
Azayliah "Zay" Perez takes the plunge off a diving board during a pool party with family and classmates on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, in Tucson, Ariz. Finally outside of a hospital setting, Zay's getting the chance to experience new friendships and play dates. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Azayliah Perez
Azayliah “Zay” Perez gazes at an ancient Chinese artifact during a class field trip to the Tucson Museum of Art, which welcomes adults and kids to stop by for an unintimidating visit.
Azayliah Perez
Azayliah "Zay" Perez balances her tiara on her head as she gets fitted for her Celebration of Life dress on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, at Gisele's Boutique, 2940 E. 22nd St., in Tucson, Ariz. Owner Wendy Garcia, who's no stranger to cancer in her family, is donating the dress.
Azayliah Perez
Owner Wendy Garcia, right, helps fit Azayliah "Zay" Perez with a tiara as she tries on her Celebration of Life dress on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, at Gisele's Boutique, 2940 E. 22nd St., in Tucson, Ariz. Owner Wendy Garcia, who's no stranger to cancer in her family, is donating the dress.
Azayliah Perez
Azayliah "Zay" Perez waits her turn in line during school picture day on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013, at Kellond Elementary School, 6606 E Lehigh Dr., in Tucson, Ariz.
Azayliah Perez
Azayliah "Zay" Perez, left, smiles as Rosalyn Urias with Inter-State Studio takes her picture during school picture day on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013, at Kellond Elementary School, 6606 E Lehigh Dr., in Tucson, Ariz.
In the 4½ years she spent mostly in the hospital fighting leukemia, Azayliah Dezerie Perez had little opportunity to make friends.
After battling cancer for half of her life, every day is special for Azayliah Perez. But October — six months after her leukemia went into rem…