Celebrations and Updates

Well hello there my FAB followers! There have been many things that have occurred that I would love to share. Just finding time to do so, is yet another challenge. Little by little, I will let you back into my life. There's so much to share :)


So to get things started...


I want to say THANK YOU to all who kept my sister in your thoughts and prayers while she battled her bout with Hodgkin's Lyphoma! As of the 2nd week of February, she had completed her last round of Chemotherapy. A few days after, she had a scan taken and was in the clear. Now the only trace left of her battle is her hair, which is growing in differently but quite nicely. My sister is now in remission :)! Hoping and praying for her future and that nothing returns!

Since her 28th birthday was a few days after her last treatment, my family wanted to hold a surprise birthday party to bring together all her supporters to celebrate her "new" life. Let me tell you how difficult that was! We've never had a "successful" surprise party for her because she is very nosy about the details but some how we were able to pull it off. It really did end up being a great celebration and the best part of it all is that she was truly surprised! BTW - Say HELLO to Natalie! All her wigs were given a name and it was quite funny because she took on different personalities depending which she wore!

In closing, I would like to provide an update on a little boy named, Brayden, whose life story I have been following through his Mother's blog, Live. Laugh. Love. Born 12 weeks early at just 2 lbs. and 14 oz., he had a long road ahead of him with many obstacles that he would have to overcome. I am elated to say that this once very fragile, premature baby boy has grown into this strong and quite handsome little boy. With all the love, support, strength and prayers of his family, caretakers, friends and followers, he has been able to take on these obstacles head on with a few set-backs. What a little soldier he is!


So if you have a moment to spare, check out Brayden's life story and show some love and support to Brayden and his family!


Until next time!


ETA: I was incorrect about my sister's next scan. She is in the process of having a scan and depending on her results, she may have to have chemo for another two more months. Please keep her in your thoughts!

Urgent Call for O- Blood Donors - Philadelphia

Urgent Call for O- Blood Donors

YOU can save a life in Philadelphia today!

Are you an 0-negative blood type?

In support of a local blood cancer patient in need, LLS & the University of Pennsylvania Hospital's Blood Donation Department are asking for your help today.

Please donate.


All donors should visit the Blood Donation Department at:
3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA
Penn Tower, Bridge level
or call 215-614-0406 for more information

Upon arrival, please inform the Blood Donation Department your donation is in support of patient #6549 at Miller Keystone Blood Center.


Thank you for joining The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in supporting local patients, and remaining relentless for a cure.

For more information on ways to support LLS, please contact the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter at 1-800-482-2873 or visit lls.org/epa.

Thank you!

Thank you all who donated and supported our team, Tanya's Soldiers! Your generous donation made us all "Champions For the Cure"! Big or small you have given people like my sister a fighting chance against this nasty disease. Your help has given these fighters a chance at a better and longer life. You are greatly appreciated!

For those still interested in donating to our team you can do so until December 31st. Just click on the banner at the top right of this page.


If you wish to follow my sister's progress through this battle, please click TanyaMarie


Thanks again and God Bless!

Only 3 days left...

To become one of Tanya's Soldiers in her battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma!

On Saturday, our team, Tanya's Soldiers, will be participating in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk: finding better treatments and cures for blood cancers so patients can live better, longer lives. I'm asking you to help by making a tax-deductible contribution! Please use the link below or the widget at the top right of the page to donate online quickly & securely. You will receive an email confirmation of your donation as soon as it is made. I thank you in advance for your support which will make a difference in the lives of thousands of patients battling blood cancers.

Just remember, every little bit counts in the fight against cancer. Helping fight one cancer, helps them all. I really appreciate your generosity!!

Light The Night Walk: Click Here To Donate


To follow Tanya with her battle with Lymphoma, please visit her CaringBridge page.

We did it!

We bought our first home! 

Details and more pictures coming soon. 

{Photo by My Dad}

A Fallen Soldier...

 {Photo by PFC Samuel Alicea - 7/31/10}

This morning, a fighter, my father's "twin" brother lost his battle with liver cancer. He was a soldier in the sense that this was his 2nd battle with cancer. Many years ago he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which was removed. End of last year or beginning of this year is when we found out his cancer had returned but this time spread to his liver. At that time, he wasn't given much time to live. His options were an aggressive chemo or let nature take its course. Without hesitating, he said he wanted to fight this and do whatever it took to have more time.

Immediately after his diagnosis, they started the aggressive form of chemo. A short time later, he went into remission, giving him what he wanted which was time. I did not get to see him while he was on chemo but from what I heard from my parents, he didn't look well at all, which obviously was expected. But when he went into remission he looked great. He looked better than he has in a while, as you can see in the above picture. Not too long after the picture was taken, we found out the cancer had returned.

Late last week, he was admitted into the hospital because his potassium levels were dangerously low which could cause all sorts of other unexpected problems but by Monday he was released. I believe at that time, a CT scan was taken of his liver area but the results were not released until the weekend. Saturday, he was starting to have some complications which landed him back in the hospital where they dosed him with morphine for the pain. That is when we learned that his cancer had spread and was now irreversible. When I visited him on Saturday, he was still pretty alert but would fall asleep on and off from the meds. One thing that was hard to see and hear was his breathing. There was fluid in his lungs that sounded kind of like someone sipping from a straw when the cup was nearly empty. Besides his breathing, his eyes were yellow, his feet were swollen and his stomach was extended all signs pointing to a failing liver. Come Sunday is when I was notified that he was going to be released to a local hospice.

Sometime either Sunday night or Monday morning is when he took a turn for the worse. His organs were starting to fail and his kidneys were only working at 20%. At his request, the nurses gave him the stronger meds to let him sleep so he didn't feel any pain. I just knew I had to see him just in case it was his last time. My hubby, my baby and I met up with my family to say what was our final good byes. Because of the medicine he was "asleep" but surprisingly he was able to hear us. He responded by slightly moving his thumb when my aunt was holding his hand and asking him questions. It was comforting to know he was still there.

I watched as he struggled for every breath he took with the sound of the fluid gurgling in his lungs. At times his breathing started to slow down and a few times he either let out a sound or he sounded like he was trying to catch his breath. Because we didn't know what we were seeing, we needed to the nurse to explain. Essentially what we were seeing was his decline. At that point, all I was praying for was for him to stay alive long enough for his 3 eldest children from Puerto Rico to arrive. They weren't going to arrive until about midnight.

We finally left and said our good byes around 9:30pm after being there 3 1/2 hours. Thankfully, his children did get to see him before his passing. According to my Mom, his children had arrived before his passing. After spending some time with him they decided that one of them were going to stay with him while the other two went to get some rest. Luckily, the nurse was there to stop them because at that time he was struggling for his last few breaths. That is when he passed at 1:15am.

Although he is now physically not on earth anymore we know he is looking down on us with my grandmother and my uncle Freddy. As my sister said, he has the best seat in the house. His passing is a huge loss for my family but now we can take comfort in knowing that he is finally no longer suffering.

Tio, because you were a fighter you have inspired us all to be fighters too! Your smile and stories will sorely be missed. An Alicea get together will never be the same. We pray that the Lord blesses your soul during this transition. God Bless and I LOVE YOU very much!