Shannah Rodriguez-Torres

Many of you already know Shanna Rodriguez-Torres. Her beautiful daughter, Bella, passed away in May after a courageous six year battle with a muscle cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. Bella and her generous and fighting spirit touched members of the community and celebrities alike. Whether it was the Miami police and firefighters accompanying Bella to her appointments with her doctors, Lebron James writing #LiveLikeBella on his basketball shoes during the NBA finals, or the Walt Disney Corporation sending Mickey Mouse to visit Bella in the hospital, one thing is clear - everyone who met Bella was touched by her in some way.

In honor of their daughter whose fighting spirit inspired others to live life to the fullest, Shannah Rodriguez-Torres and her husband Raymond founded the Live Like Bella Foundation. While also advocating for the most innovative non-toxic cancer research exclusively for use in pediatrics, the foundation helps cancer patients and their families in three unique ways: (1) they offer "funds in hand" for clinical trials; (2) they provide recreational support to families by providing android tablets to families across the United States so that children can keep up with their education, play games and video conference with family and friends when they are separated due to treatment; (3) the Live Like Bella Foundation works with funeral homes across the country to help provide families with a memorial plaque or urn for their child who has passed away from cancer. When asked what she would like to see the Live Like Bella Foundation achieve in the next ten years, Shannah said that they would like cancers that are considered terminal to be curable without the lasting and toxic effects of chemotherapy.

Shannah believes that Bella, whose concern for others always trumped concern for herself, would want her parents to help find a cure for pediatric cancer and she draws her strength from this goal. Shannah says that the greatest lesson her daughter taught her is,"it is not the weight of the load that breaks us, but rather how we choose to carry it." For more information on the Live Like Bella Foundation, please click HERE.

Nickelle Crowley 

Nickelle Crowley is also the mother of a very courageous little girl. At the age of two, Ava Crowley was a happy and healthy toddler who lay down in bed one night complaining of a stomach ache. Over the next few weeks, the stomach pains persisted. This symptom, along with complaints of being tired and a noticeable increase in water consumption, lead Nickelle to listen to her maternal instincts that something was wrong with Ava. When asked by the pediatrician what she thought may be wrong with her daughter, Nickelle responded that she feared Ava had a tumor. Nickelle's maternal instincts may have saved her daughter's life as Ava was soon diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, a cancer that forms in the nerve tissue. Upon learning of Ava's initial diagnosis, Boo introduced Shannah to Nickelle who, according to Nickelle, provided her with a tremendous amount of information and sense of comfort. After 13 months of treatment which included six rounds of chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tumor, stem cell transplant, radiation and immunotherapy, CT/PET and MIBG scans performed in July revealed that Ava has no remaining evidence of disease.

Like Shannah and Bella, Nickelle and Ava are making a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer. Currently, they are working with the Miami Children's Hospital Foundation to raise $10,000 to go towards the Miami Children's Hospital Cancer Center. On September 21 MCH will have a 5k run/walk in downtown Coral Gables to go towards these efforts and they could not have chosen a cuter MCH5K Hero than Ava. For more information on the race or to join Ava's fundraising team, click HERE.  

To our readers who have children battling cancer and other illnesses, Nickelle offers the following advice: become an expert in your child's illness, for you are your child's greatest advocate; take care of yourself by eating healthy and exercising because a clear head is necessary when making hard and important decisions regarding your child's treatment; take help that is offered because it is a difficult journey to travel alone. Finally, Nickelle says to remember to find gratitude in each day and in each moment with your child.

Along with Shannah and Nickelle, we thank you, JABBERS for the support you showed throughout Bella and Ava's journey. Together, we can all continue to make a difference in the lives of pediatric cancer patients everywhere.