Mia Amendolagine was born in Florence, Italy in 2006. She was a healthy, thriving and uniquely joyful baby. Mia had dual citizenship with her American mother and Italian father. Mia spent her early childhood years growing up in Italy and learning to love life and each new milestone. Her little sister and best friend was born just 17 months after her. Together they embarked on the adventures of a wonderful childhood. They dressed as princesses, took dance classes, loved all holidays, and embraced both sides of their culture. Many holidays were spent in California visiting their U.S family. After beginning primary school in Italy, the Amendolagine family relocated to Fresno, CA in 2013. Mia made the transition from Europe to the United States with ease and enthusiasm. She loved her new school, excelled both academically and socially, made fast friends and continued to embrace her Italian heritage. Her funny sense of humor, sweet and kind personality, and ability to find the positive in every situation distinguished Mia. 2015 began in the ordinary fashion. Mia celebrated her 9th birthday in February with family and friends. Just after spending a few wonderful days in Santa Barbara for their spring break Mia came down with an alarmingly high and persistent fever. Nagging maternal instincts challenged her mother to take Mia into Valley Children’s Hospital after only 4 days of the fever. On April 17th, 2015, Mia was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Life was instantly transformed. Mia and her family were thrown into the hardest and scariest challenge that exists. As with everything else in her life, Mia met this challenge with absolute bravery, optimism and surprising joy. Mia’s treatment consisted of two harsh rounds of aggressive chemotherapy at VCH to bring her into remission. Knowing that even the most lethal chemotherapy couldn’t eradicate this type of leukemia, a bone marrow transplant was needed. An international search was launched and a donor was quickly identified. The transplant took place at LPCH Stanford children’s hospital on July 28, 2015. What seemed initially a success suddenly turned into an aggressive battle to survive the mass destruction the TREATMENT wreaked on Mia’s young body. Complications from the treatment kept Mia hospitalized for almost 11 consecutive months. Mia suffered massive organ damage and due to immunosuppression, infection brought Mia to the ICU several times. Mia fought with all of her might and will to live a long and purposeful life. Nurses, doctors and hospital staff were awe-inspired by her courage and determination to get better. Mia endured the unthinkable in attempt to be healed and allowed to leave the hospital and resume her childhood. Mia’s treatment confined her to a hospital room for a total of 378 days with only 20 days outpatient. Unfortunately, being healed here on this earth was not Mia’s destiny and she passed away in the hospital on June 25, 2016. Her family is left devastated and required to accept that the only treatment available to cure childhood cancer is what caused Mia to lose her life. The Amendolagine family now fights for change in the childhood cancer world.