This is the 4th time I have participated in a St. Baldrick's event. Over the past ten years of my teaching career we have had numerous students attend the school who have had various forms of childhood cancer. At first, I just felt good helping people that I didn't know very well or at all.
In 2016 that changed. One of my students, Ariel Caro, was battling ATRT, a form of brain cancer. Ariel's strength and drive were an inspiration to everyone. Despite having medication ports in her skull and chest, a feeding tube in her nose, partial paralysis of her face, no hair and nausea due to chemo, and being constantly cold, Ariel came to school everyday. Through it all Ariel never complained, she just wanted to be like every other 7th grade girl.
In March of 2017, the same month as our school's 3rd St. Baldrick's event, Ariel was told there was no sign of the cancer in her brain. By March of 2018 it was back.
Ariel and I formed a very strong relationship over the course of 2 1/2 years. Eventually, we became more like close family members than teacher and student. Ariel would spend hours with my family: playing guitar and games, watching movies and television, going to the zoo, museums, and the beach.
As late fall of 2018 came, the inevitable toll of the cancer became clear. At 6:43 am on November 12th, 2018, surrounded by those of us who love her, Ariel's loving heart beat for the last time. While Ariel is physically gone, I'll remember her and love her for the rest of my life.
Now it's personal. Please help me raise money to fight childhood cancers so that in the future kids with cancer have a better chance to live a full life.