Hi!
My name is Costanza. On January 8, 2017 I was called up to heaven and left this world. I was only 16 years old.
My life here was short, but full of life.
I was a happy child and was excitedly looking forward to my teenage years when I was suddenly diagnosed with cancer one day at the end of November in 2013.
Unfortunately, it was one of the worst, ugliest, meanest, most aggressive, and rarest types: DSRCT.
I didn’t let that get me down though!
After the initial shock I took action. My mom, dad, and friends stood steadfastly by my side and helped me to fight courageously. I hoped with all my heart that I would be able to defeat this monster.
I tried my best to continue living a normal life for a 13-year-old girl. I ignored him, pretended that he wasn’t there, and did my best to push this most unwelcome intruder out of my life.
I endured treatment after treatment, but despite our every effort it wasn’t enough to defeat him. I loved my life more than anything else, but in the end, he won.
My parents have now started a no-profit organization called “Il sorriso di Costanza – Onlus,” which means “Costanza’s Smile.”
They decided to call it this because I never lost my smile throughout it all.
And that is what I want to see on the faces of the children that have so unfairly been stricken by this disease like I was. I want to see the smiles return to their innocent faces.
The main goal of this organization is to provide funding for further research into pediatric cancer, especially research into Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors so that progress can be made to defeat this terrible disease once and for all!
My hope is that my story will touch your heart and help you realize how important it is for you to continue my battle for me.
Your support is essential for further research to continue, and I hope you will choose to donate. If you have any ideas or suggestions to help raise funds, my parents would love to hear about them.
Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart.