“I have two cancers in my body at once,” Talia says. “Well preleukemia; which is a start of leukemia in my bone marrow. There are not really any treatments for it. It is very rare to have neuroblastoma and leukemia at the same time.”
A 13- year old cancer patient, Talia Joy Castellano, who inspired the complete world with her video blogs about her, finally lost her battle of life. Her heartbreaking yet inspiring blogs taught us many things. To smile even with deepest pain in heart, to inspire even with the sufferings, to live even with the realization that the end is not far away.
Talia, battling with cancer from the past 7 years, lost her battle and departed on the morning of 16 July, 2013. The YouTube star continued to make videos for her fans throughout her battle, and inspired her adoring fans through her Instagram and Twitter accounts. The young You Tuber was made most famous by appearing on Ellen DeGeneres‘talk show ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’, and then being made an honorary Cover Girl by Ellen. In one of her videos, Talia explained,
“Having cancer has been a gift yet a horrible, horrible, terrifying thing. But I’ve gotten so many benefits from it…Having a YouTube channel and having to inspire people, and having people look up to me and explaining to you guys how I love and adore makeup, using it as my wig and having so much self-confidence to go out to the grocery store without a wig… it’s just amazing.”
Talia passed away after coming down with a fever, and she needed a platelet transfusion. The past six months have been especially difficult for her and her family, and they spent most of their time in the hospital. Fans have been following her progress through the Facebook page Angels for Talia, which is run by her family. After her tragic death, her family posted this statement on the page:
“It is with a heavy heart that we share with all of you that Talia has earned her wings at 11:22am. Please lift her beautiful soul, her beautiful light to heaven and please send your love and prayers to her family during this most difficult time. God speed little one, may you be free from pain and suffering, may your soul feel the light and love that you brought to so many of us on this Earth during the short time you were her with us. We will miss you more than you will ever know baby girl.”
Neuroblastoma, a cancer usually originating in the adrenal glands and developing from nerve tissue is the most common type of cancer in infants, but can also rarely occur in older children. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow and causes almost one-third of all cancer deaths in children and adolescents younger than 15 years.
“Basically there aren’t a lot options for treatment anymore,” Talia tells her viewers in the video. “The docs gave me to option of doing treatment or don’t do the treatment and just live life for the time remaining. Having cancer has been an amazing yet horrible journey, yet every journey has an end.”
Talia says that according to doctors without treatment she has a couple months to up to a year left to live. She is considering a bone marrow transplant though the procedure would be very tough on her body because of the multiple previous surgeries she has endured.
“I’m going to decide on whether or not I want to do the bone marrow transplant, or whether or not I just don’t do it and the live the time I have remaining,” said Talia. ”This isn’t fair to me anymore, I’m only 13. I shouldn’t have to be doing this.”
Talia’s YouTube bio reads:
I’m Talia, I’m 13 years old and I love makeup. “Make-up is My Wig” I like to say. And you can prob see I’m bald- I have cancer (neuroblastoma & leukemia). I don’t like wearing wigs so I wear makeup to feel good and pretty inside – and I guess outside. LOL!
Our prayers go out to Talia and her family and friends. May her soul rest in peace…….
Setu Bhatnagar
CampusWriting * Udaipur 