Marissa was diagnosed with Stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma at the tender age of 16 months. The only way we knew was she had black eyes. Marissa went through 6 rounds of chemotherapy; a stem cell transplant, in which we almost lost her a few times; 12 cycles of radiation; and then started immunotherapy. However, during the 3rd cycle of immunotherapy she had a severe allergic reaction and the doctors thought it was in the best interest to stop. Marissa then entered into remission. Then on November 5, 2010, we took Marissa in for routine scans, and to our surprise the cancer was back and in her brain. It was inoperable. She was now terminal and given only 3 months to live. The doctors told us we could do 8 cycles of radiation that may or may not work. Dad and I pressed on hoping Marissa would be ok. We decided to go ahead with the radiation, but after the 2nd day we decided to stop. Marissa had endured so much in 2 years that we could no longer be selfish. We had her for an extra year and a half and it wasn’t us who had to be in pain it was her. So, we took her home and tried to live every day like it was her last. The morning of December 30, 2010, we knew Marissa's short little life was soon to be over, so we decided to have family and friends come and say goodbye. At 2:05PM, with her family around her, she peacefully passed. It is my duty as her mother to get the word out about childhood cancer. I will become an advocate for MY HERO MARISSA.
 
Written by Nicole Nelson, Marissa’s Mom
July 2011