Natalie Salazar was the Arctic Figure Skating Club's star, The
Ritz-Carlton's prom queen and her mother's spirit.
Natalie, a pretty, petite 13-year-old Canton girl with a charming
smile and an infectious giggle, died early Thursday morning after a
yearlong battle with cancer.
 ADVERTISEMENT
|
|
"She caught the hearts of so
many people," said Nancy Fees of the AFSC. "Her spirit made everyone
want to rally behind her." Natalie, an award-winning ice skater who
began the sport at age 3, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in
September 2006 and had been hospitalized since early summer.
After several rounds of treatment proved fruitless, the teen's
doctors gave her a month to live.
"Her parents revolved their lives around their little girl," Fees
said. "They have been through the fire and now there's an empty spot
in their lives."
The youngest child of Maria and Sumorfin Salazar, Natalie did
constant research on neuroblastoma and believed she would be able to
live out her dream to attend high school and juggle successful
careers as a veterinarian, lawyer and part-time fashion designer.
Earlier this year, Natalie was the focus of a skating fund-raiser
that pulled in more than $20,000 in donations.
"Natalie was like the Energizer bunny," Fees said. "She never
gave up and she fought until the end."
Upon graduating from the eighth grade in June, the St. Anselm
Parish student was treated to a prom at The Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn
that was organized in her honor. The hotel sponsored the "Sweet
Escape"-themed bash.
"We do a lot of projects, but with this one, everyone adopted
Natalie," said Laura Gutierrez, Ritz-Carlton director of human
resources. "She was our little prom girl - that's how we'll remember
her."
At the prom, Natalie had long, auburn hair and wore a ball gown
in her favorite color, pink.
"From the time she walked in the door until the time she left she
was smiling," Gutierrez said.
Natalie, who worshiped God and loved ice cream, French manicures
and her plump chinchilla, Mr. Chubbykins, had told friends that one
of her greatest wishes was to live to be 16 years old. She would've
turned 14 on Oct. 22.
Natalie's funeral will take place 11 a.m. Monday at St. Anselm's
Catholic Church, 17650 Outer Drive, Dearborn. Before her death,
Natalie requested that all those who attend her funeral wear white.
hometownlife.com
