The Death of  a child has touched me once again another brave warrior Princess has been sadly taken from her family and friends at a very tender age. Lilly Valentine De Jesus the beautiful Daughter of Melinda and Ezequiel passed away from Neuroblastoma Cancer this evening. Lilly touched the hearts and minds of our entire community here in Florida.

Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer of the sympathetic nervous system — a nerve network that carries messages from the brain throughout the body. Each year there are about 700 new cases in the United States. It is usually found in young children and is the most common cancer among infants. These solid tumors — which take the form of a lump or mass — may begin in nerve tissues in the neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, or, most commonly, in the adrenal gland. They may also spread to other areas of the body, including bone and bone marrow.

The cause of neuroblastoma is unknown, but most physicians believe that it is an accidental growth that occurs during normal development of the sympathetic nervous system.

Treatment for neuroblastoma differs depending on many factors, particularly the stage of the disease and the age of the patient. neuroblastoma that have recurred, or come back, may require different types of medicine.

When you look at Lilly you see love, beauty, grace, courage and a spirit that I know is pleasing to God very much.  Lilly has a smile that could light up the world, Lilly has a beautiful soul one that you could clearly see through her eyes, you looked deep into that beautiful girl and you could see the joy, comfort, unconditional love, peace she brought to so many. Children with Cancer or any illness are no different from any child, they are beautiful, they are gifts and blessings to there family and friends, they love unconditionally, they teach us as adults lessons in life ones that quite frankly we should not need about compassion, about acceptance, about giving spirits, about treating with respect, they don’t judge, they love. The lessons they teach are so amazing and again ones that we should not need to be taught we should already know it.

Lilly was a little girl who loved life, loved to make people laugh, loved having friends and no matter what hardships or health challenges she suffered every picture I have seen that sweet little girl had a smile that would light the world all the time, it was on going that smile.  She fought bravely and with more grace and dignity and did it proudly and with that beautiful smile there was never a time I did not see a picture of her not smiling  I know that smile is lighting the heavens for all the other Angels to see.

When a child dies, it is one of the hardest things in life to understand. We have lost so many children to Epilepsy, Cancer and or many other childhood diseases and again we are looking into the tearful eyes of their parents, and we see one another. We know that without divine help, we could not bear that pain. We think about a precious life snatched away before it was fully formed, like a flower snipped from the stem just as it was beginning to bloom. We question “Why” but only God knows the real answer to that question. But what I do know is that for whatever reason God needed Lilly more right now and that the one thing that I am finding comfort in is that through this new loss is knowing that she is Free. No more pain, no more suffering, no more tests, no more tears, just happiness and joy probably playing with John, Danny, Scott Jr, Chelsea, CeCe (Cecelia), Adaleigh, Jordan, Piper, Joey, Donna, Eric, Kyle, Ryan, Savannah, Ezekial, Sam, Christopher Adam, Brayden, Joseph, Ellie, Connor the children we have lost and having a good time and that puts a smile on my face the way it did from the very first time I saw her precious face and that infectious smile in her photographs. She is another one of our Angels that is going to be with each of us helping us in our causes and advocacy work that we need done to get the funding and research we need to find and get the CURE.

If I can offer any peace or comfort to both her parents as its so hard words never come easy and people really do not know what to say I can offer you this. I offered this to another parent who sadly and recently lost a beautiful child and I believe in my heart for this to be true. Always remember the good times, their were many, always remember she loved you, she did, always remember that infectious smile, its in your heart beating. Remember that even though she is no longer physically with you she has never left you, she is in your heart and soul, when you look up to the heavens at night and you see the brightest star sparkling like diamonds in the sky that is Sweet Lilly winking at you saying “Hey Mommy & Daddy don’t worry I am doing great, you taught me that” when you see a rainbow after a storm that is Sweet Lilly telling you “Thank you for calming my fears and keeping me safe for seeing the beauty in me through my eyes”  When you hear the rain that is Sweet Lilly telling you “Hey don’t cry you gave me the best of everything,you gave me the best thing a Princess ever needed a family” celebrate her life for there is much for you to celebrate and know that one day you will see her again and what an occasion that will be.

Sweet Lilly, thank you so much for touching me and all those who knew and even those that did not know you personally it was an honor, privilege to know, learn about and love you. You taught us all about fighting and staying strong and we will honor your memory every day. Cancer will not win this battle and we know you will be guiding us all over the years so that we can stop the madness and find the cure. God Bless You Sweet Lilly. This is a favorite song of mine sung by a now 9-year-old Gospel Singer I hope it brings comfort. Give our love to all our Children that we have lost and let them know we honor, love and miss them every day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDDlxmsciqY

From my family and our foundations family we want to extend our deepest condolences to Lilly’s Family during this most difficult of times. We love you and you’re in our thoughts and prayers as is Sweet Lilly. Gone but never forgotten. God of light thank you for helping to guide us out of the darkness of pain and grief that occurred after the loss of our beautiful children. Now that they are gone every single memory is both precious and holy. Bless each memory we have of our children so that they will continue to live on in our hearts and minds forever.”

“WHEN GOD CALLS LITTLE CHILDREN”

When God calls little children
to dwell with him above,
We mortals sometime question
the wisdom of his love
For no heartache compares with
the death of one small child
Who does so much to make our world,
seem wonderful and mild
Perhaps God tires of calling
the aged to his fold,
So He picks a rosebud,
before he can grow old.
God knows how much we need them,
and so he takes but a few
To make the land of Heaven
more beautiful to view.
Believing this is difficult still
somehow we must try,
The saddest word mankind knows will always be “Goodbye.”
So when a little child departs
we who are left behind
Must realize God loves children,
Angels are hard to find.

To read and learn more about Neuroblastoma Cancer or make a donation please contact http://www.neuroblastomacancer.org/ and help spread and raise awareness so that we can do everything possible to prevent another loss and another family broken apart.  In lieu of flowers Lilly’s family is requesting donations be made in her honor and memory to http://calebscrusade.com/