Influencer, model and cookbook author Nara Smith has revealed that her two-year-old daughter, Whimsy Lou, was diagnosed with cancer late last year after what began as a concerning trip to the emergency room.
In an emotional video shared on Instagram, Smith recounted how she and her husband, Lucky Blue Smith, first noticed “something suspicious” and rushed their daughter to hospital. Although doctors in the emergency room were initially unsure of the cause, a visit to their pediatrician prompted an urgent referral to a children’s hospital for further testing.
Recalling the terrifying moment, Smith said, “When we took her into our pediatrician, I just remember him going really quiet and calm. My heart dropped in that moment. I don’t know whether it was my gut telling me something or just a mom’s intuition, but the first thing that I felt was she has cancer.”
Following X-rays, ultrasounds and a biopsy, the family received the devastating diagnosis.
“After a lot of X-rays, ultrasounds and finally a biopsy, they immediately called us and said that she had cancer, told us it had spread and that she needed to come and start chemo treatments immediately,” Smith said. She did not disclose the specific type of cancer or provide details about Whimsy’s current condition.
The 24-year-old said the diagnosis has taken a significant emotional toll on the family, who have been balancing Whimsy’s treatment with caring for their other children and work commitments.
“Processing this and navigating all of this as a family has been really hard,” she said. “A lot of you have probably realized that I’ve been posting a little less and this is the reason why. Having found all of this out and navigating this while postpartum, also loving and caring for our other kids at home, also being in the hospital with Whimsy a lot and balancing work on top of that has been really challenging.”
Smith explained that connecting with other parents facing similar circumstances had helped ease the isolation she felt during the ordeal. She said she hoped sharing her family’s experience would offer comfort to others and encourage people to seek medical attention if they notice something concerning.
“We wanted to share this to hopefully bring someone else that comfort and even incentivize you to go get something checked out that you’ve been avoiding,” she said.
In the caption accompanying her video, Smith also thanked the healthcare professionals who cared for her daughter, writing that she was “thankful for each and every nurse and doctor along our journey who helped us get through and out the other end.”
Cece Smith 
Bongi Sikelo 