When she was a baby, Brielle Beyer developed neuroblastoma — a type of cancer that attacks nerve cells. Her mother, Justyna Beyer, left behind her career as an emergency room nurse to care for her daughter

Later- to help her become one of the top figure-skaters in her age group nationally.

Justyna — who was born in Poland and moved to Connecticut as a child — remained deeply proud of her heritage and kept a stash of her favorite blueberry pierogies in their freezer as a snack, said Andy Beyer, Brielle’s father and Justyna’s husband