My daughter Bianca was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at 2 years old. It was a difficult time for everyone, but most especially me. I felt that the world stopped and everything was falling apart. I would cry every night blaming myself that my daughter was sick because it was my fault. I had failed at taking care of her. I would put on a strong face for my daughter Bianca, I didn’t want her to see me sad, angry and broken. But deep inside, I was. She surprised me one day. She hugged me and said “mommy, I know you’re sad but I’m strong mommy. You taught me to be strong.”  At that moment I knew my daughter was my hero! She is the one that taught me to be strong and not give up!

-Nallely Vega-Stanley, mother