Not long ago my life was full of happiness And today is sad I’m not my self any more, I’m afraid My best times, at the rink One goal in mind, become a gold medalist Be a veterinarian, form a family And do for my kids what my parents doing for me I was living a Cinderella dream At twelve I was ready to take the challenger I was accepted for high school, I started early When suddenly that discomfort than I learn to live with Became untamed and brought me to my knees The things than I like do most became impossible I have done it so many times and I can’t now I seen my self going down it is desperate See my parents suffer the most. Everything is up hill I didn’t understand what was going down when The cruel reality hit me I was sick I was diagnosed with neuroblastoma a form of cancer Fourth stage that’s they said I’m not let it take me down I’m fighting it And continuue to fight with your help I can make it My family, my friends and people like you Praying for me to get well and helping me with the cost I thank every one of you that thought of me and wish me well And some day I will offer that Olympic gold medal to you Natalie Salazar. Thank you

QFAD Private Hospital Visit with Natalie, September 5, 2007 (http://www.detroitqfad.com)
By Esther Skiba, QFAD Director

Today I had the honor of visiting with 13 year old Natalie, in Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. We had been contacted the week prior by Karen, one of Natalie's former 8th grade teachers. Kelli and Elizabeth Yager had set up a private home visit with Natalie for Thursday, September 6 as Natalie was supposed to be home on the 3rd. On Tuesday evening Karen called and told us that Natalie had not come home and had in fact gotten a lung infection and was in the Intensive Care Unit. The doctors were not giving her much time, and Karen asked if we could come as soon as possible. My schedule was open so it was decided that the visit would be the next day At noon. Karen met me in the lobby of the hospital with a hug and a thank you for being there. She told me Natalie was not doing well. We went to Natalie's room where we saw a tiny young girl, struggling for breath even though she was hooked up to oxygen. Her parents were there as were some of the hospital staff. The nurses had decorated the room with a beautiful canopy of netting over the bed, balloons were tied to each corner of the bed. An exquisite pink prom dress hung up in the room. Natalie had asked that it be brought up to the hospital so she could put it on for the visit, unfortunately she was not up to putting it on. Her parents, both there had also, on her instructions brought a photo album for me to see. It included pictures of the prom held in Natalie's honor after 8th grade graduation, because her friends knew it would be the only prom Natalie would ever attend. There were also pictures of Natalie ice skating, she was training to be an Olympic skater. The nurses made Natalie as comfortable as they could and the Queen for a Day PARTY started. The hospital social worker brought in 4 friends from school and Natalie's skating coach and a group of other doctors and nurses that had been caring for Natalie.Each of the ladies were given bright pink boas and the boys from school humored us and put on pirate hats. What was at first a very solemn room was becoming quite joyous.We were indeed celebrating Natalie! Because of Natalie's frail condition we tried to keep her quiet and we did not do the usual make-up, nail polish, or crafts.

She was given 6 or 7 tiaras to choose from and after a few minutes she whispered that she couldn't decide which she wanted as she loved them all. I told her to keep them all because a Queen should have one for each day of the week. I wish you could have all witnessed the smile on her face. We took lots of pictures as everyone in the room wanted their picture with Natalie. A special friends picture was taken of the 5 school friends and each of them were given a copy and special frame to put it in.Natalie was given several gifts from QFAD including a beautiful blanket hand made by Rose Champion who sends them for our kids all the way from Florida. Her friends brought her a banner that had messages from Natalie's friends at school along with a bouquet of roses and a bouquet of sunflowers. The nurses had a special cake made for the party and had brought in a pizza lunch.A young resident doctor presented her with a quilt that she had transferred photos of Natalie doing the things she enjoyed, all of us at the party were asked to sign it as well. It was very obvious that Natalie had found her way into many peoples hearts, including mine.

The next day an email arrived from Karen, who had stayed at the hospital into the evening with Natalie and her parents, she told me that Natalie had worn a tiara the entire time and clutched the scepter, which I also gave her to keep. Her mom wanted to put them away for the night but Natalie refused to let her. Natalie's father had gone home to get fresh clothes and when he returned to the hospital he had a HUGE bouquet of 3 dozen roses that had been delivered to Natalie from a Queen for a Day family. Natalie told him that"this day just keeps getting better".

On Thursday, the family was told Natalie had only 24 hours to live, and family started to arrive from Argentina and Peru, where the family is from. Well, Natalie had other plans. By Saturday she was using only oxygen in her nose and was drinking lots of fluids. She told the nurses she wanted to go outside, so they took bed and all!, She then wanted to go to the beach, so she was taken to the therapy room were she got into a bathing suit and sat into a whirlpool tub. The nurses gave her and her cousins that had arrived from out of town squirt guns and they had a squirt gun fight. What an amazing staff.

I hope, with all my heart that one day our program will not be needed because cancer will no longer be an issue, until then I am honored to be a part of the journey of these brave children and their families.