Community mourns loss of 11-year-old to cancer

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- A Beaverton family celebrated the life of an 11-year-old girl who died after an insurmountable fight with a rare form of cancer.

Adopted by Aloha High School as its Sparrow Child (a child in need of support after being diagnosed with a medical crisis), Alena Marek touched various lives throughout her community.

Marek, who died on Christmas day, had been diagnosed with the most advanced stage of a rare, soft-tissue cancer that affects children.

However, Marek leaves behind hearts, touched deeply by her short life. At her funeral Monday, people gathered to remember her energy and spirit.

"I liked it when she would come over and play and she would make all these fun ideas and she would never, ever do anything to hurt anybody," Marek's friend Emma Schuhmann said.

Sarah Parker, another of Marek's friends, felt the same way.

"Alena was a really good friend she was just always smiling and happy and trying to forget that she was sick," she said.

Marek's courage in battling cancer inspired acts of community-wide kindness. She was known by her friends and family as a talented child who was wise beyond her years.

"She was a beautiful artist," Carol Judy said. "She's a beautiful artist it was just amazing to see some of her photos and pictures and stuff."

Said Lynn Fulton, "She was just a lovely young lady who prayed a lot, had a lot of faith."

Marek stayed strong and was not afraid of dying.

"She was preparing us from the very beginning to let her go," said Shelley Heringer, who is friends with the Marek family.

Marek was an inspiration and example for her peers, they said.

"When I first found out, I was trying so hard not to cry because I know she's looking down on us and now I know that she's in a good place," Schuhmann said.

Marek's family is struggling to pay off the overwhelming medical bills related to the illness. Contributions can be made to the Alena J. Marek donation account at any U.S. Bank.

Source: http://beaverton.katu.com/news/news/452152-community-mourns-loss-11-year-old-cancer

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