Audrianna was a normal 2 year old until one day she got a cold with a horrible cough that didn't end. After 5 months of seeing her almost every day, her pediatrician told us she simply had a cold that she and her sister kept passing back and forth, and that I was being an over-reactive first time mom. When I asked for blood tests and chest x-rays he told me they were invasive tests that she didn’t need. It finally got so bad that I took her to a clinic for a second opinion. Within 24 hours we were at the Janet Weiss Children’s Hospital being told that Audrianna had neuroblastoma, which they had found after a biopsy of her neck. The tumor took up 90% of her stomach, and was wrapped around her adrenal gland and her left kidney. The cancer had spread into her liver, lung and bones. Since her diagnosis Audrianna has had 6 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery to remove her tumor and is now undergoing the first of two stem cell transplants. Through all of this she is the bravest person I know, she doesn't cry or get sad when it's time to go to the hospital, instead she helps pack her bags because she knows she is going there to get better.
 
Audrianna is a true ray of sunshine. Even with all she has been through, she would be the first to stand up for the underdog and she never ever complains about her battle with cancer.
 
Never in a million years did I think cancer would hit my child, but we take it one step at a time and live for her laughter and smiles! Audrianna is a great big sister; her little sister Kyra adores her! She is also a wonderful cousin and grandchild and everyone that knows her loves her. Audrianna loves iCarly and Hannah Montana and wants to meet them both someday. My dream as her mom is that she makes it through this and gets to live her dreams!

Sadly, Audrianna passed away on February 15, 2013 at the age of 6.

Written by Angela Bartol, Audrianna’s Mother
11/09