For those of you who didn’t know, THON.org has a section on under the Families tab that lets you read the stories of some of the families that have been helped by THON and the Four Diamonds Fund. The page is designed to allow you to better get to know the families that participate in THON and all that they go through. The stories are very interesting and give you a perspective on things that most of us don’t normally think about.

Each week, THON adds another story about a family. This week’s family is the Rupp Family and their daughter Felicia. Felicia was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in 1993, at the age of 7. She successfully passed the 5-year mark, but in July of 1998, she was diagnosed with “secondary leukemia,” a second cancer.

Felicia ultimately died of her leukemia, but the Rupp family decided to celebrate her life with a positive memorial service as opposed to a somber one. The family was able to take a terrible tragedy and turn it into something where they can look back and remember the good times and just how precious life really is.

To learn more about the Rupp family and other THON families, visit THON.org.