Monica has been a fighter all her life but has really shown her strength in the last 3 years. She was diagnosed in May of 2004 with Rhabdomyosarcoma in the chest cavity. She had the lower lobe of her left lung removed at that time and started chemo soon after. She fought through the chemo and the nausea and was clear for a year. Then in November of 2005 she was given the news that it was back. She fought the fight again and was cleared in September of 2006. Just recently in February of 2007 she was given the sad news that her cancer was back again and this time it was terminal. She continued to fight for her life for as long as she could. She refused to give up. She said she had too many things going on to give up . Between 4-H, Girl Scouts, academics, Academic Pursuit, SADD, and Hippology she kept herself and the rest of us busy. And even though she knew she wouldn't make it to her own graduation she wanted to continue with school until she couldn't. She was able to maintain her 3.93 GPA and make Honor Roll one last time. She was truly a figher and truly an angel on Earth. She not only did all of her extra carricular activities, she continued to make gift bags and Easter baskets for the kids at the hospital so they have something to entertain them while they are in the hospital. She enjoyed beading bracelets and necklaces for them as well. She said it makes her smile knowing that those kids are happy. Monica lost her battle with cancer August 18, 2007. But her memory and story will live on. She had one last wish before she passed that we continue with her project of the gift bags for the children at Merit Care Children's Hospital. She said " don't let the kids suffer because I woun't be there". She passed peacefully with a smile on her face, knowing she will be in Heaven looking over us all and helping someone somewhere find a cure for this awful disease. Please keep donating and participating in her memory.