Aurelia Reis Gwaltney, Indianapolis, age 5, was a ray of sunshine and fittingly loved the color yellow.

 

Aurelia was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age two and spent more than half her life undergoing treatments including multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, proton radiation and a clinical trial. At age five, Aurelia's magic on earth ended after her hard-fought battle with childhood cancer.

 

 Aurelia never met a flower that didn’t need picked and never saw a dandelion that didn’t need kicked. Princesses are all real; as are unicorns. Magic isn’t a surprise, it is expected on a daily basis. Movies should never be watched any fewer than fifteen times and anytime a song played it meant time to stand up and DANCE. Books are to be devoured and memorized. And when playing hide and go seek—never hide for more than twenty seconds.

 

Aurelia loved her home and made the world her playground. Everywhere she went became a special, magical place. Opti Park, Tarkington Park, and her neighborhood Pocket Park may have been typical outdoor spaces to anyone else, but for Aurelia they became The Giraffe Park, The Hill Park, and The Bridge Park—and were worlds of their own.

 

Aurelia attended Butler University Lab School #60 and loved that she was a ‘walker’ and found joy walking to and from school with her big sister, Opal. She also loved visiting the school’s garden. Aurelia previously attended Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation Early Childhood Center. She truly loved all her teachers and classmates.

 

Aurelia loved all things yellow, all things ballet, Paris, baking, books and of course cats.

 

Aurelia’s magic will live on in our hearts and actions. We hope all who know Aurelia’s story remember her magic and share it with others.