Marissa is a very happy child. She loves to play with her older brother and younger sister. She loves to be around her little cousins too. She is a trooper and is very brave. She has battled cancer and beat it with a stick!! She was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a brain tumor, on May 21, 2009. She was only 4 years old. She immediately underwent surgery. Thanking God up above, the tumor was completely removed. On June 18, 2009, she began 6 weeks of radiation therapy and then underwent chemotherapy for 11 months starting September 14, 2009. While under treatment, she maintained a very positive attitude. After surgery, she couldn't walk for a little over a month. Her tumor was on the cerebellum, which controls balance and coordination. But Marissa was a fighter. She was determined to walk again and began cruising around the house while holding on to furniture only 2 weeks after her surgery. She didn't care when she began to lose her hair. As a matter of fact, we shaved her head to make it easier and when we were done she said, "Mommy, when my hair grows back, can we do it gain?". She was and is sooo amazing!!!! On July 30th, 2010, we were blessed with the best news ever, that our baby girl was CANCER FREE!!!!!!!! Every day we continue to struggle with obstacles as a result from all the radiation directly to the brain and spine and the chemotherapy. We take it one day at a time. To us, the most important thing is that she is CANCER FREE, alive and healthy!! We love you Marissa!!!