GIRL'S MEMORY LIVES ON IN GARDEN MEMORIAL FOR YOUNG CANCER VICTIM BUILT AT SCHOOL THAT WAS HER ESCAPE.Byline: SUE DOYLE Staff Writer CASTAIC - The school was her sanctuary. It was a haven from the hospital beds, doctors' appointments and surgeries that dominated little Melissa Manahan's life. The girl died last year after battling cancer nearly all her life. She was 9. On Saturday, her parents, sister and friends gathered at Castaic Elementary School elementary school: see school. for a memorial created in her memory. The bench and tree will serve as a reading area on campus and will also represent other children from the school who will die young. "She loved going to school despite her illness," Romeo Manahan said of his daughter. "She always looked forward to it. It gave her a break." Melissa's medical problems began before she was born, when doctors detected a tumor tumor: see neoplasm. growing inside of her. When she was 3 days old, it was removed. The surgery was the first of 11. She was 2 when she was diagnosed with a rare cancer called germ cell tumor Germ cell tumor (GCT) is a tumor (neoplasm) derived from germ cells. (Germ cells themselves are not pathogenic; i.e., they are not the viral and bacterial "germs" that cause illness.) Germ cell tumors can occur both inside and outside of the gonads (ovary and testis). , which spreads to other parts of the body. About 900 children each year are diagnosed with the cancer. The small-framed girl with brown eyes Brown Eyes (브라운 아이즈) was a Korean musical duo, specializing in ballads. Although both members have powerful voices, they were initially disregarded because of their physical looks. and hair underwent chemotherapy chemotherapy (kē'mōthĕr`əpē), treatment of disease with chemicals or drugs. One chemotherapeutic approach is the development of selectively toxic substances, i.e. , radiation, bone-marrow transplants and other life-saving techniques until there weren't any more treatments left. "She made us appreciate life," said her mother, Elaine Manahan. "She made us strong. She made me strong." The family has donated $3,000 to the school to buy books for its library, where a section will be dedicated in Melissa's name. The Manahans plan to donate more books to the school over time. Reading was one of the girl's passions. She became an avid AVID Cardiology A clinical trial–Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators that compared the effect of implantable defibrillators vs the best medical therapy–antiarrhythmics for survivors of MI or those with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia reader in the hospital and completed stacks of books. Her favorites were "The Little Mermaid little mermaid the sacrifices her own life to save her beloved prince. [Dan. Lit.: Andersen’s Fairy Tales] See : Self-Sacrifice " and the Harry Potter series. On a Web site created in her memory, Melissa smiles from a picture posted at the top of the page. Hundreds of photos that follow include Melissa with her parents and sister Madeleine Madeleine (măd`əlĭn, Fr. mädlĕn`) [Fr.,=Magdalen, i.e., Mary Magdalen], large church of Paris, in the Place de la Madeleine. It was originally planned by J. A. , 7, at events connected to her survival and her death. Visitors to the page have written their condolences, and some shared stories about their own losses. It seems that even in her death, the girl is still touching people's lives - including Andrew McGrory. The 14-year-old worked on her memorial for an Eagle Scout Ea·gle Scout n. One who has achieved the highest rank in the Boy Scouts. Noun 1. Eagle Scout - a Boy Scout who has earned many merit badges Boy Scout - a boy who is a member of the Boy Scouts project and found an inspiration for its design after meeting with the Manahans. The family hopes their daughter's remembrance at the school will be an inspiration for others. "She taught me to never give up," her father said. "To never accept no for an answer." Melissa's Web site is www.melissa-manahan.memory-of.com. sue.doyle(at)dailynews.com (661) 257-5254 CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Above, Melissa's Garden, a memorial to third-grader Melissa Manahan, who died of cancer last year, was built by Boy Scout Andrew McGrory of Troop 583 in Castaic. The area sits at Castaic Elementary School, which served as an escape from the hospital for Melissa. Below, from left, father Romeo, sister Madeleine, 7, and mother Elaine Manahan sit during a memorial service for Melissa on Saturday. (3) From left, Brett Nagatani and his wife, Beatriz, Melissa Manahan's aunt and uncle, stand with Andrew McGrory, the Boy Scout who made a memorial for the girl, Melissa's sister Madeleine and her father, Romeo Manahan. Joel P. Lugavere/Special to the Daily News |
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