As The World Says Goodbye To 13 Year Old Talia Joy Castellano, My Day Is Changed

Some days when I get to work I have a hundred blog post ideas and some days I have none. Today was one day that I didn’t have anything going on in my head I needed to share.

That is until I learned about 13 Talia Joy. I opened the “Explore” section on my Instagram and noticed that two different people had posted photos of a young bald girl with a lot of make up on. Her face was very angelic and innocent, so naturally I clicked on one of the photos. I learned that her name was Talia Joy Castellano and she passed away this morning. The last post on her Facebook page stated,

It is with a heavy heart that we share with all of you that Talia has earned her wings at 11:22am. Please lift her beautiful soul, her beautiful light to heaven and please send your love and prayers to her family during this most difficult time. God speed little one, may you be free from pain and suffering, may your soul feel the light and love that you brought to so many of us on this Earth during the short time you were here with us. We will miss you more than you will ever know baby girl.

I sat at my desk, unafraid of what my coworkers would think and I wept. My heart slowly broke for this beautiful young lady I didn’t even know and had not even heard of until three minutes earlier.

I’ve done so much over the years, as many of you have, to help put an end to childhood cancer through my work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and other organizations. I’ve heard hundreds of stories, spoken with adult survivors of childhood cancer, I’ve even spoken with many currently going through treatment but the stories of loss never get any easier.

Talia was diagnosed seven years ago with having Stage 4 neuroblastoma, a cancer that develops from immature nerve cells found in several areas of the body. Since that time she has become somewhat of a YouTube sensation providing her viewers makeup tutorials and video blog updates about her treatment. Thanks to her skill and love for makeup, Covergirl even made her and honorary cover girl during her appearance on Ellen.

She has been an inspiration to millions who have heard and seen her positivity shine through an intense darkness that most of us, hopefully, will never know. This young lady, just three hours after she passed away had changed the course of my day and in some small way, my life. It again focuses me and redirects my attention to fundraising and generating awareness of childhood cancer.

Too many young people are never given the chance to live a full life. Some never get to marry their sweetheart, go to their high school prom or even get their driver’s license. Cancer is a faceless monster and cares nothing about any of us. The best we can do is our very best by raising awareness and much needed funds for organizations like St. Jude, ACCO, Cure, and others.

Young Talia, in just a few short hours has reenergized my spirit. Yeah, I cried when I heard the news but those tears were short lived. I realized that her soul had been untouched and she was now in greater arms than she had ever been in, here on this earth. I’ve always been a person who believes that everything happens for a reason. Good or bad. Talia was here for 13 short years to inspire people with her courage and love of life and living it. I opened my Instagram at the time I did this morning because I needed inspiration. I need a new clarity and sense of life.

Talia, even though I had never met you, I thank you.

My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.