Vero Orozco-Lapray
Vero was the sort of child who's dream was to have to her family around her. Nothing made her happier than her mom and dad, sisters and cousin, aunts and uncles all being by her side. Before being diagnosed with Leukemia, Vero was the brightest young girl anyone could meet. She loved having friends and making others around her happy. Her favorite sister Paula, and her favorite cousin Cesar, and her best friend Beatriz were the centers of her world. Vero enjoyed being active in sports including volleyball, playing with her friends and going out with her family. She could be convinced of just about anything; one of the charming qualities of her incredible innocence and trust in the world. Her laughter and smile were so contagious few who knew her could resist laughing along.
At the age of twelve, Vero's family began noticing small changes in her diet, a recurring loss of appetite and slowly the immense energy she used to have began to fade. While on summer vacation to Mexico to visit her grandparents and extended family, Vero's malaise worsened. In August, her sister Diana arrived and accompanied Vero to the doctor's consult that would lead to many more. Thousands of miles away from home, Diana and her grandmother sat and received the diagnosis nobody expects to hear. Vero had a very advanced leukemia.
Vero's family gathered around and while everyone else knew about the diagnosis, Vero did not. Her sisters and family made the difficult decision to not inform her until she had arrived home where she could have her mom and dad at her side. Her journey back home was the start of her incredible journey and fight to survive the cancer.
For seven months, Vero endured every needle stick, every port insertion, every episode of nausea and pain with an amazing inspiring strength. There were moments of fears, and moments filled with tears, but the moments Vero smiled were far greater in number. Her spirit and love for her family remained strong through the months. The brightness in her eyes and smile shone through even in the darkest of moments.
At the age of twelve, Vero's family began noticing small changes in her diet, a recurring loss of appetite and slowly the immense energy she used to have began to fade. While on summer vacation to Mexico to visit her grandparents and extended family, Vero's malaise worsened. In August, her sister Diana arrived and accompanied Vero to the doctor's consult that would lead to many more. Thousands of miles away from home, Diana and her grandmother sat and received the diagnosis nobody expects to hear. Vero had a very advanced leukemia.
Vero's family gathered around and while everyone else knew about the diagnosis, Vero did not. Her sisters and family made the difficult decision to not inform her until she had arrived home where she could have her mom and dad at her side. Her journey back home was the start of her incredible journey and fight to survive the cancer.
For seven months, Vero endured every needle stick, every port insertion, every episode of nausea and pain with an amazing inspiring strength. There were moments of fears, and moments filled with tears, but the moments Vero smiled were far greater in number. Her spirit and love for her family remained strong through the months. The brightness in her eyes and smile shone through even in the darkest of moments.