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Connie O' Connell

by Marla Joy from Oxnard

" it is hard to beat a person who never gives up".

There are many heroes in the world but I have chosen this angel hero named Connie O’ Connell. To me she is very inspirational to others in the world and me. Connie is a little girl who is very brave. She is an inspirational person and not just to me, but to her family and friends out in the world. She shows courage and bravery and Connie said, "It is hard to beat a person who never gives up". That is who and how Connie lived her life. She is a great hero! Who says good things can't come in small packages!

In 1993, eight days before Christmas, a small gift was brought into the world. This is my hero Connie. She was born on December 17, 1993. Eleven months later the doctors saw that Connie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Doctors at John’s Hopkins gave her an 8% chance of survival. Her parents were determined to fight Connie’s disease.

A few months later Connie had a relapse. The cancerous cells were taking over her body. After the disappointing relapse in 1996, with a shocking 1% chance of survival, the doctors decided to do a bone marrow transplant. But, there was no donor. Everyone in Connie’s family got a blood test. Finally they found the perfect match; it was her sister.


When Connie was better, her family loved to spend the summers together. Connie loved to spend her time in the neighborhood pool. They say that she would always go around the house wearing her bathing suit. If Connie will stay in her remission she will be cured from cancer. Things didn't go well and Connie had another relapse.

When it was November Connie was really ill. She couldn't speak because the chemotherapy burned all the lining of her throat off and it was hard for her to speak and do the simplest things. They had to brush her teeth with a Q- tip that was covered in medicine. The doctors said that nothing was getting better and it was time for another BMT. Then when the day was to come and Connie was dying, her whole family was standing around her bed saying their last goodbyes to Connie. She was one of those kids that never lived past 6. On her heart monitor the numbers were soon dropping. At exactly 11:37 a straight line was on the monitor . Connie had passed away. A nurse came to dip Connie's hand in the plaster so that the family can keep it hanging on the top of their family room.

Page created on 11/19/2008 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 11/19/2008 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.