Aria’s Light: A Story of Love, Loss, and Lasting Connection

At just seven weeks old, baby Aria was full of sweetness and innocence, seemingly just like any other newborn. But one quiet morning, her mother, Dandan, noticed something — a round mass behind Aria’s ear, about the size of a ping pong ball. Trusting her instincts, Dandan scheduled an appointment with their pediatrician.

One look was all it took. The pediatrician knew it was serious and immediately sent Dandan, her husband Kai, and their tiny daughter to Seattle Children’s Hospital. What followed were whirlwind days of scans, questions, and treatments. It wasn’t until several days later that they heard the word no parent is ever prepared for: Rhabdomyosarcoma — a rare and aggressive cancer.

An MRI was finally scheduled. What it revealed shattered their world: the cancer had already spread throughout Aria’s fragile body. There were no more treatment options. In the face of the unimaginable, Dandan and Kai made the most selfless, loving decision any parent could — they brought Aria home.

In the quiet of their home, Aria spent her final month surrounded by the people who loved her most. She was held, sung to, kissed, and cherished every single day. In November 2021, she passed peacefully, embraced by love.

Though her time was short, Aria left a permanent imprint on her parents’ hearts. To honor her memory, Dandan and Kai chose a beautiful resting place for her — a small church and private school, where Aria would forever be surrounded by the joyful sounds of children. Each month, Dandan, Kai, and Aria’s younger sister, Alaia, make the journey to visit her. Dandan says she can feel Aria reaching out to her — a quiet whisper, a pull at her heart — reminding her it’s time to come by.

“I feel she’s still with me,” Dandan says. “People are still with you if you remember them.”

Aria’s story is one of deep love, unimaginable loss, and the powerful bond that lives on between a child and her parents. Her light may no longer shine in this world, but it continues to glow in the hearts of those who carry her memory forward.