CBS4 News Takes Center Stage
Oct 12, 2009 12:29 am US/Eastern
Fund Set Up To Help Pay For Child's Funeral
Gildiana Soza, 6, Died Saturday After A Long Battle With Brain Cancer
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The South Florida 6-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with terminally ill cancer and had a range of earthly dreams fulfilled during her short life has died.
Gildiana Soza died of her illness on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. at Camillus House, a homeless shelter in downtown Miami. Her friends and family were nearby when she passed away.
But it was her story that touched the lives of those who barely knew her.
Now, the family needs help to pay for funeral expenses. An account has been set up at Chase Bank. Deposits may be made under her mother's name Diana Hislop, account # 851280693.
Earlier this year, the Miami Seaquarium invited her to swim with the dolphins and in early October, a dance troupe performed at a fundraiser to help her family pay for their medical bills. Gildiana Soza had dressed up as Snow White and later Sleeping Beauty. But she had to be wheeled into the event in a stroller as she could no longer walk.
Doctors diagnosed Gildiana with brain cancer in 2007. The news nearly destroyed her mother, Diana Hislop.
"I didn't think I was gonna see her anymore, and I just asked God to help me," Hislop told CBS4 news in August. "Gildiana didn't speak, didn't walk, it was very terrible."
Doctors tried the traditional treatment: radiation, chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant and for a while Gildiana seemed to be healing. But in 2008, doctors discovered more brain tumors. While doctors intensified the treatment, Gildiana's body collapsed into a coma.
At the time, her mother expressed the helplessness she felt.
"I thought she was gone, I thought she had gone. It was very awful. She got all burnt up it was like if you get a chicken and you put it in the oven, and it comes out burned that's the way she was," Hislop said earlier this year.
In June, doctors had given her six months to live, but she only made it through four.
The family had been living at the homeless shelter because Hislop, a single mother, had to care for Gildiana and her 12-year-old brother Armando. She had also hoped to bring her 8-year-old son from Nicaragua to see her, but she lacked the money.
A viewing will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18th at Florida Funeral Home, 1495 NW 17th Ave. A church service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 3716 Garden Ave., Miami Beach.
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