Advertisement 'They called me a boy': 10-year-old cancer survivor mocked at nail salon Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The manager of a Virginia nail salon said employees will undergo sensitivity training after mocking a 10-year-old cancer survivor.According to WJLA, Iliana Bellard, of Quantico, was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer that attacks the lymph nodes, in January 2017. "They actually put her on palliative care, ‘cause they didn’t have much hope at the time,” her mother, Elizabeth Bellard said. “She then had nine tumors throughout her body.”Nearly two years later, the mother and daughter were told the girl's cancer was in remission. “They call her the miracle child because they weren’t expecting what happened,” Elizabeth Bellard said. “So she’s definitely a fighter.”To celebrate, Elizabeth and Iliana went to the Imperial Salon and Day Spa in Stafford for a manicure. But, staff members were reportedly unkind to the girl.“They called me a boy,” Iliana said. “I was embarrassed a little bit.”A nail technician reportedly made fun of the girl's nails, brittle from the chemo, and her short hair, saying repeatedly that she looked like a boy.“She says, 'It looks like a boy is getting her nails done, everybody’s going to think it’s a boy getting his nails done,'” the girl's mom recalled. “And they started laughing. And she says, 'I just can’t get over that she looks like a boy,' and they just kept laughing about it.”The salon manager offered to draw something on the girl's nails for free and a receptionist apologized. However, soon a write-up of the experience went viral on social media and the spa was scolded on Facebook and Yelp.A statement was released, saying in part: “We do not now, or ever support any of our employees making comments to any of our amazing clients. We value each and every one who walks into our spa. We deeply apologize that this has happened.”The spa's new manager, who wished to be identified only as Brandy, said she had a serious talk with the nail tech.“When she told me, she kind of laughed, and that’s what set me off,” Brandy said. “It’s not a laughing matter. It’s not funny. If you were told by the parents she’s a little girl, that’s it, it should have stopped right there, you should have apologized (and) walked away.”Brandy said she has fired one employee and suspended two others. She has also ordered sensitivity training. Elizabeth Bellard hopes this is a teachable moment for everyone.“It’s not OK, whether it was a child with cancer or without cancer,” Elizabeth Bellard says. “Just bullying, it’s not OK.”Iliana said she is trying to stay strong.“What advice would you give to somebody who was in that situation?” she was asked.“If anyone called you a boy, no matter what, you’re pretty,” she answered.