As a parent, there is nothing more important than protecting your child and ensuring their safety. So, imagine the heartache of watching your child fall ill and feeling powerless to help. This is the unimaginable reality that Magalli Jimenez faced when her daughter, Ava Skye, became seriously ill.
Ava Skye had a blissful first year of life, but everything changed when she reached just 13 months old. Jimenez noticed her daughter was in discomfort and immediately took her to the doctor. The devastating news came – Ava Skye had a rare form of muscular cancer that was impeding her physical growth and causing her pain.
With a heavy heart, Jimenez prepared herself for a battle she never wanted to fight. She remained optimistic about Skye’s oncologist’s treatment plan and believed in her child’s resilience. But after numerous rounds of grueling chemotherapy, the family received the heartbreaking news – Skye’s cancer had relapsed.
The physicians informed them that the cancer was resistant to therapy, and the only option left was surgery. However, due to Skye’s young age, the chances of her surviving the procedure were slim. Jimenez was shattered. She knew she would only have a few precious days or weeks left with her baby.
In an act of profound love and selflessness, Jimenez made the difficult decision to place Skye in hospice care. Her goal was to ensure that Skye’s remaining days were as comfortable as possible. Despite her own pain, Jimenez found the strength to smile and laugh with her daughter, cherishing every moment together.
A dear friend of Jimenez, Davina Galvan, who understood the pain of having a child battling cancer, created a GoFundMe page to raise funds. The goal was to raise $5,000, enabling the family to fulfill all the dreams on Skye’s bucket list. The outpouring of support and generosity from the community was overwhelming.
On August 22, 2022, Skye passed away in the loving embrace of her mother. Jimenez held her close, filled with a mix of heartbreak and relief, knowing that her little girl was no longer in pain. The day before Skye’s passing, she mustered all her strength to serenade her mother with her favorite song, “I love you. You love me. We are a happy family.”
Jimenez captured this incredibly touching moment on video, sharing it on social media to commemorate the beautiful soul that Skye was. She described how her heart will forever be broken, but also how she made a promise to her daughter – to live life fully in her memory.
The grief and loss that Jimenez and her family feel are beyond words. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them during this unimaginably difficult time. Let us share Skye’s story to celebrate the incredible spirit she possessed and remind the world of the importance of cherishing every moment with our loved ones.
