Elizabeth Mora is a 30-year-old speech pathologist. She is a mother and a wife. She is a daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, niece and friend, just like many of our other loved ones that we are here to support, remember and honor. Eli was diagnosed with a grade three anaplastic astrocytoma in her temporal lobe in May 2009. She has endured brain surgery followed by six weeks of radiation as well as chemotherapy. Eli is a devout Christian and has served as an example of faith, belief, and perseverance. At times her will as well as ours has been tested but her strength, positive outlook, and faith have never wavered. Through the tears and trying times, she has emerged with her head held high and unknowingly been an inspiration and the strength that we all needed. Eli was courageous when the tumor reappeared and was spreading. She was strong as ever when her life was beginning to be measured in years and months. She was faithful as ever when her last MRI shocked the doctors when the tumor that had returned and begun to spread was nowhere to be found. She displays her understanding now that she realizes the road in front of her is still long and trying; however, with all the bad news we all receive through the process it is important to celebrate the good news. She has taught us that when given such a grave diagnosis, we cannot begin to die on a daily basis. She faced life with courage rather than facing death with fear. I believe that is what gave her the advantage from the beginning. We are blessed and honored to have Elizabeth as a mother, a wife, a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, an aunt, a niece, and a friend.
Elizabeth Garcia Mora
