RESILIENT AND STRONG
Welcome friends! We'd like to thank you for visiting us and letting us tell you about HER Story. We are the BARKERS: Diane, Athena, Brian.
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This space will hold stories about our precious daughter Athena Rose who fought her way through Grade IV Medulloblastoma (a type of Brain Cancer) to earning her Angel Wings back in June 30, 2020.
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Our mission is to keep her memories alive and to honor her through the gift of giving. We also would like to open this space to other families fighting Childhood Cancer. To Support the Fighters, Admire the Survivors, Honor the Taken.
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Tomorrow is not promised. When you say "I don't have time right now," think again. Make time with the people you value most, make them feel they are worthy of your time, most importantly - make every moment count.
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How Athena Rose became Resilient and Strong
Some Things Never Changed.
Athena Rose (Forever 3) was a very happy child. She was our one and only. She made us better parents, better individuals. She has touched and changed so many lives in ways we could not even imagine.
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On November 2019, we found out that she had a localized malignant brain tumor; she had undergone 2 brain surgeries, 3 rounds of chemotherapy, went to inpatient rehab where she got back on her feet - walking again, then 3 rounds of high dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplants each time, to the point that she was NED (no evidence of disease).
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Until on the day they have to remove one of her chemo ports, a simple procedure, turned out to be the worst days of our lives.
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The last 7 months and 7 days of her life, she showed us Resilience and Strength. Something we believe (as parents) that we would not be able to bear through the way she did and still be able to put a smile on peoples faces and be as fearless as she was.
"Happiness is not based on possession, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect."