Last week I received some very exciting news. Researchers at Stanford University had a major breakthrough where they were able to use tumors donated from five children—including Dylan Jewett who, just like Cristian, loved Thomas the Train—to create a model of a DIPG tumor in mice.

On Tuesday, March 1st I attended a Celebration of Life for my friend Vivian Rivera, who passed away of a brain tumor on January 6th. Vivian was so courageous throughout her life. She had already fought a successful battle against breast cancer before being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Valentine’s Day was always one of Cristian’s favorite holidays so as much as I love him and miss him every other day, today I love him and miss him even more. I remember when Cristian was at Memorial Sloan Kettering one Valentine’s Day and he wrote out little Valentine’s Day cards for all the nurses.

It was two years ago today that Cristian earned his wings and went to Heaven. Cristian died at 6am on January 25th as I held him in my arms. No matter how much time passes, I still miss him and love him more than ever.

Last week, the world lost an amazing and courageous person: my friend Vivian Rivera. Vivian was a breast cancer survivor but a brain tumor took her from us too soon on Friday January 7.