This is our story for you, Stella. Mommy, Daddy, Marc, Justin and Michael miss you and love you very much.

Where do I begin? April 28th 2000 was the most special day of our lives. A beautiful, perfect child by the name of Stella was brought into this world. We all knew with a name like that she could only turn out to be an extraordinary and loving person—just like the woman she was named after, her Grandmother Sitto (Stella). Before her birth, my world consisted of a house full of men. From the day she was born, we knew that we had added a Queen to our thrown.

A house once filled with baseball hats and dirty sneakers was now consumed by pink, pink and more pink. From bows to gingham to polka-dots, we all couldn't get enough of her. As Stella grew, so did our world of pink.
I finally had my own Barbie Doll to dress up and play house with. Sometimes I would dress her up six times a day, I couldn't get enough of her. She was my best friend.

Stella was a 30-year-old in a little girl's body. She had beauty, brains and an abundant amount of love. She had it all. She ruled our house but most of all she ruled our world. We shared secretes and promises and lived through each other.
Stella dressed her brothers, told them when to eat, when to sleep and if their homework wasn't done she made sure I knew it. She ran a tight ship but grew more and more beautiful inside and out. She taught me about love and life.

When Stella began school my fear of letting her go out into the world frightened me. I wanted Stella with me all the time but I would wake up extra early to workout and get home early enough to dress her, do her hair and put her on the school bus. I had to be the last one to see her go and the first to see her come off the bus when she got home. I never missed a day.

We were so attached that Stella refused to go on play dates and to birthday parties unless mom tagged along. In her Kindergarten class, she played sick just to go to the nurse's office so she could call me and hear my voice. Our love was like no other. I could go on and on but something so special can not be expressed in words.

When Stella got sick no one even knew it. She was not in pain, and if you saw her you would never believe it. She never complained! Through days of chemo we would play and our bond became unbreakable. Even when we spent nights in the hospital, we couldn't wait for room service so we could eat Marino ices and Tootsie Rolls together, sometimes till midnight. We enjoyed having our own pajama parties.

Stella's nights with Dad at the hospital made a bond between father and daughter like no other. She was his princess and he was her king that could be compared to no other. They were a match made in heaven!

From art projects to pottery and mosaics, we did it all. Now I realize that doing it all was never enough. All in all, life flies by and if I only had one more second, one more “I love you,” one more kiss, one more touch, just one more moment with Stella...

As she got better we thought there was hope. Our visits to the hospital became less but Hashem had different plans for her.

At the Bone Marrow Drive last summer Stella attracted 6,000 people in two days to be tested, to help save her life. Today, that’s 6,000 more people in the registry that will save a life or two or three or more people. Everyone from people in our community to strangers who saw her picture wanted to save Stella’s life.
Well Stella, they couldn't help save your life but you, my baby, will be saving the world for the rest of time.

It’s funny—I didn't want her to save the world. As a mother my only thoughts were my saving Stella. But this was her plan. When Stella's last days approached we were in shock. Stella had a fever and an infection that left doctors confused. Two days prior to that, Stella was being Stella—ruling the house and playing with Wii and Playstation3, and making cupcakes. Did I mention I became a baker?
Visitors would stop by to challenge her to a game of “Matching” and “Sorry” but she would always win. Everyone who met her fell in love with her. Even strangers in restaurants and elevators would ask me her name.

She never cared what people thought. She had mommy as her best friend. With me by her side we took on the world. Stella knew her life was the best. She had a family of three brothers that adored her and a father that was her Superman and made all her dreams come true. Stella left us much too soon. In fact, she never left me—I still have Stella. We all do, especially people who knew her and the people that will learn that because of this little girl, they will have a second chance at life.

Stella, I hope you are looking down at me. From the rainbows you sent us on our kitchen floor to all the love letters you wrote me when I would run on errands, what a gift I had! I received love letters from her just because I left the house for 20 minutes, and she would text message me “I love you” (from her pink Razr phone) while we were next to each other in bed.

I cannot even begin to tell you what joy she brought to me. We hope that somewhere over the rainbow Stella sees us and blows us kisses like snowflakes. Stella, we love you. You are our rainbow and our star that will shine forever in our hearts.

Please come visit Stella's Rainbow at Stella's website: www.stellasrainbowfoundation.org and help us fight our biggest fight ever.

Written by: Mommy