Tag Archive for: neuroblastoma foundation

He never takes it for granted…

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June marks a significant date as it is the month that Isabella lost her fight to neuroblastoma. This year will be 5 years since we lost her to this horrible disease on June 28th, 2012. The Santos family has been through their ups and downs in dealing with losing a daughter, sister, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, niece and cousin. But as you have most likely noticed, they have persevered… and they lead the push to fight for kids with cancer in Isabella’s honor. This month we will be sharing both the happy and raw times as we celebrate Isabella’s spirt and the legacy she left behind.

He never takes it for granted…

Sophia, Grant, Isabella and Daddy

“Father’s Day is tough. I try my hardest to make the day special for Stuart. I know for me, Mother’s Day is hard and can at times be painful. I hate to have him experience the same pain. I always try to ask him what he wants to do but he answers don’t consist of much other than breakfast with the family. We do cards and gifts to tell Stuart how much we appreciate him… but it never feels like enough.

Just last night as the two of us sat at dinner alone, I asked him if he wanted to write something about Father’s Day. It’s a weird post for me to write because I’m sure I could never communicate what he is thinking. But Stuart is a talker, not a writer. He could talk for an hour about what he is feeling about Father’s Day, but cranking something out on paper just doesn’t happen easily for him.

The interesting thing he said that resonated with me was how he felt like Father’s Day is all about thanking your Father for all they do. But in fact, he doesn’t want to be thanked. Just the opposite really, he wants to say Thank you to all of us for the gift of being a Father. He said how thankful he was to be a Daddy to our kids and that is what this day means to him. It’s the best thing he has done with his life.

My kids are very lucky to have someone who considers his role a true gift and he never takes it for granted. I’m confident that our kids will always be amazing people because of Stuart’s role in their lives. You can always see the love my kids have for him in their eyes. He means the world to them all.” -Isabella’s Mommy

We can accomplish so much more if we fight cancer together.  Learn more about donating to the Isabella Santos Foundation.

Her personality would be the anchor…

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June marks a significant date as it is the month that Isabella lost her fight to neuroblastoma. This year will be 5 years since we lost her to this horrible disease on June 28th, 2012. The Santos family has been through their ups and downs in dealing with losing a daughter, sister, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, niece and cousin. But as you have most likely noticed, they have persevered… and they lead the push to fight for kids with cancer in Isabella’s honor. This month we will be sharing both the happy and raw times as we celebrate Isabella’s spirt and the legacy she left behind.

Her personality would be the anchor…

Isabella and Don reading the paper

“One of the most precious moments with Isabella took place prior to the cancer diagnosis. It was about a year before that terrible October. As I look back…her personality would be the anchor for her struggles later. Isabella was visiting Katherine and I in Florida while mom and dad went to a wedding and left her with us for a week. Isabella required that she sit each day at the breakfast table and read the newspaper with me and she would not want to leave my lap until I had turned all the pages. Small as she was when Katherine was making dinner, Isabella had to be a part of the process. Isabella was so young, but so engaged with us. It is impossible to imagine then what this wonderful person would be forced to endure. Her inner strength has been the touchstone for our lives since. My big consolation is she is watching over us and filling our lives with love.”  -Isabella’s Grandparents, Don & Katherine Santos

We can accomplish so much more if we fight cancer together.  Learn more about donating to the Isabella Santos Foundation.

Forever grateful…

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June marks a significant date as it is the month that Isabella lost her fight to neuroblastoma. This year will be 5 years since we lost her to this horrible disease on June 28th, 2012. The Santos family has been through their ups and downs in dealing with losing a daughter, sister, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, niece and cousin. But as you have most likely noticed, they have persevered… and they lead the push to fight for kids with cancer in Isabella’s honor. This month we will be sharing both the happy and raw times as we celebrate Isabella’s spirt and the legacy she left behind.

Forever grateful…

Isabella and Sara

“I met Isabella one week before she was diagnosed at her birthday party. I was introduced to the Santos family through a mutual friend and was drawn to this kid the moment I met her. She had an infectious laugh, the sweetest voice and was a fighter from day one.

I loved just watching her run around playing, singing, taking her and her BFF Soliel to Chuck E Cheese, watching her grow into a young lady, watching her with Grant and Phi, loving on Jake the cat and Bailey the dog. BEING A KID. Just wishing it could all be normal for her.

One thing that I will be grateful for forever… Erin and Stuart allowed me to say goodbye to her. Coming in and seeing her and her worn out body, yet she managed a smile when she saw me. Just sitting there with her while Miss. Chrissy scratched her back. When leaving telling her that I loved her and her saying it back to me in her sweet voice is something that will never be erased from my mind.

10 yrs later, people that never met her love her. It says a lot about who she was. She was one in a million and the reason I do what I do year after year……for her ❤” – Sara Moody, family friend

We can accomplish so much more if we fight cancer together.  Learn more about donating to the Isabella Santos Foundation.

She should of been there…

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June marks a significant date as it is the month that Isabella lost her fight to neuroblastoma. This year will be 5 years since we lost her to this horrible disease on June 28th, 2012. The Santos family has been through their ups and downs in dealing with losing a daughter, sister, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, niece and cousin. But as you have most likely noticed, they have persevered… and they lead the push to fight for kids with cancer in Isabella’s honor. This month we will be sharing both the happy and raw times as we celebrate Isabella’s spirt and the legacy she left behind.

She should of been there…

“There are some things I just can’t do. Today is one of them. Her kindergarten class at Marvin Elementary school celebrated the new exciting frontier ahead of them that is Middle School. It’s crazy for me to think that I’m old enough to have a middle schooler. Especially with all the money I pay not to look like I do. I’ve watched them all from a distance over the last couple of years, wondering which group she would of been in. I must say, I even miss the drama that would of ensued with her friends and the talk of boys in my backseat. I skipped through all the heartache, pain and joy of having her in her last year of elementary school. I knew the class was going to be taking a minute during the ceremony today to remember her and both a financial and sentimental dedication would follow. I know the right thing to do would to have been there, and smile when they put her picture up on the screen. But I know in my heart I would have been scanning the room. Wondering if these kids are really touched by the loss still, or if the parents are feeling a little more grateful today when they see their son or daughter’s name being called out. Grateful they are not me. I appreciate her being remembered today but honestly, it’s a day I want to forget. Another milestone, stolen from us because we drew the short straw on life. She should of been there.” Isabella’s Mommy (Today, June 8, 2017)

Today, Isabella should have graduated from 5th grade. The impact she has left on her classmates and everyone around her holds strong… as evidenced today by the dedication her 5th grade class made to her. Yes, Isabella should have been there celebrating with all her friends. But her spirit and legacy is incredibly inspiring… and we thank Marvin Elementary (Union County, NC), her teachers and friends for honoring her to ensure she is never forgotten. Along with the dedication, the 2017 fifth grade class families organized a financial donation presented to ISF. We can’t put into words what this means to not only Isabella’s family…. but her foundation. A plaque remembering her will hang in the hallways among the hand-painted tiles that all of the 5th graders completed as their legacy class gift.

Forever a Marvin Mustang.

We can accomplish so much more if we fight cancer together.  Learn more about donating to the Isabella Santos Foundation.

It’s National Running Day

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For National Running Day we are offering a $5 off coupon for our 10th Annual 5k/10k For Kids Cancer on September 30th. Take advantage and get signed up today! Discount available ONE DAY ONLY (June 7th).