Teen Cancer Victim Remembered for Family Spirit

Aptos teen Tianna Valdez passed away on Aug. 6 at just 15-years-old after her second bout of cancer, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. A volleyball star in her own right, Valdez got the chance to meet Olympian Kerri Walsh before she died, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Sentinel reported.

See Tianna's obituary below, as posted on Legacy.com.

Tianna Anairi Valdez
5/26/1997 ~ 8/6/2012
Resident of Santa Cruz

Services [were] held on Friday and Saturday for Tianna Anairi Valdez who passed away from Rhabdomyosarcoma at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital on Monday, Aug. 6th, 2012. She was 15 years old. Tianna was born in Santa Cruz, on May 26, 1997, residing in Aptos where she attended Holy Cross Catholic School.

Tianna loved to read and write. She enjoyed cooking and baking. One of Tianna's favorite pastimes was to get manis and pedis with her sister, Leilani. She loved Adele. Her passion was Volleyball and was a member of the Main Beach Volleyball club and Holy Cross Church.

Tianna liked spending time with her friends and loved having her little cousins around. One of Tianna's favorite places to go was Petroglyph. She was dedicated and always encouraged friends and family to smile and maintain a positive attitude. 

Tianna is survived by her parents, Diego Valdez and Claudia Cisneros and her sister, Leilani Valdez; her Aunts, Iriana and Bianca; her uncles, Carlos and Adrian. She is also survived by Leo Valdez, her dog and best friend. 

The family requests that contributions are made to www.mylifeline.org/live4todayT, select under the Giving Angels tab or mail to 360 Poppy Way Aptos, CA 95003.

We will always cherish the moments we all shared with her, she will be greatly missed. 

"When you miss me, just look up into the night sky and remember, I am like a star, sometimes you can't see me, but I am always there."

Did you know Tianna? Are you acquainted with her family? Share any memories of her in the comments.