I am Vanessa Castro. My husband Ivan and I are proud parents to Aiden, age 5 and our fighting girl, Aubrey, age 3. She was diagnosed with ALL Type B leukemia in May 2013. Words can never express how it felt to hear my husband tell me on Friday, May 3, 2013 that he was on his way to pick me up from work because they had a bed ready for our daughter and "mommas, they think Aubrey has cancer". My heart still sinks when I retell and relive those feelings. It is a feeling no parent should ever feel and words they should ever hear. I feel God is calling us to use this journey to bring about awareness, funds, calls to action from all for research and cures for the #1 killer of children all around the world. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is how I have carried on in this journey.

Aubrey loves to paint, write, sing, dance & play with her big brother Aiden, who is her hero along with Jesus. She loves princesses, especially Rapunzel and Ariel.

Aubrey was diagnosed in May 2013 after experiencing a week long bout of temps that were come and go. The real indicator to take her to the doctor was a temperature so high but concentrated in her tummy area. The next day she had no temp, no fever and the doctor couldnt give us an answer. The only suggestion was blood work. Two hours later my husband sat face to face with our pediatrician for next steps, take her to Kaiser Sunset LA for more testing but the possibility it was leukemia was high. Since that day, Aubrey has fought, prayed, grown, laughed and experienced joy. She lives daily with her motto "Stand Strong". She is funny, independent and is a jr nurse at every clinic and hospital visit. She is my hero. I once asked her who is so brave? And she answered mommy! I was thankful that she hasnt ever seen the fear in my eyes but I answered her no, my sweet girl, you are brave, the bravest lil 2 year old I have seen and blessed that you are mine. July 12, 2015 will be her last day of chemo and oh what a day that will be!!! Until then, we stay in the fight & stand up for childhood cancer!!!I'm raising money for childhood cancer research! Did you know that kids' cancers are different from adult cancers? It's true. And childhood cancer research is extremely underfunded. So I decided to do something about it by raising money for cures.Now I need your help! Will you make a donation? Every dollar makes a difference for the thousands of infants, children, teens, and young adults fighting childhood cancers.