Vivian’s Love

Vivian Grace Castaneda was born on October 17, 2012. From the moment she came into the world she instantly filled the room with love. Reflecting back on her life, it’s as if she knew her purpose in life was only to love. And that she did with all her heart and being.

Vivian was a healthy toddler who did everything from laughing, smiling, crawling, standing to walk, running and climbing… always following her big sister Emily who loved her and kept her close by her side. They went to pre-school together where she made beautiful friends from all ages… all who grew to love Vivian and all who became her second family. Every day at school was her chance to love through singing, dancing and playing.

On February 2015 she started to show signs of fatigue and parts of her body being inflamed. With the help of the Children’s Hospital of Hackensack NJ, we learned she had an autoimmune disease called Juvenile Dermatomyositis – which is an inflammatory disease which only affects a small number of children in the world. Although her symptoms supported this disease, doctors could not fully diagnose and rather defined as a variant of the disease. Ultimately Vivian’s disease affected her lungs and she could not win her battle. Vivian passed on April of 2015 leaving a beautiful mark of love to everyone she met.

All she knew and understood was the love of her family and the love she gave to each doctor and nurse who attended by her side. The beauty we experienced was how the love was reciprocated from all the doctors and nurses through their smiles and toys brought to her each day. The affection behind these gifts was what remained and made long days and nights easier on our baby.

In honor of Vivian’s Love we would like to commemorate by continuing the act of giving love to all the children who maybe going through the same difficult times as she did. The joy, happiness, and warmth that these children experience when receiving small gifts is priceless in itself. May these gifts bring smiles and happiness to each child. And in this way Vivian’s love can continue to spread in the hearts of all children.