Paris Bella Alvino

A young Redlands girl s memory will be celebrated Sunday after losing her battle with Neuroblastoma, a form of cancer, on Tuesday, her family said. Paris Bella Alvino will be recognized at an open to the public ceremony planned to begin at 5 p.m. at the Redlands Bowl, 25 Grant St. In her 10 years, the young Smiley Elementary School student inspired those she met by inspiring others to become a better person through her positivity and smile as she went through months of chemotherapy, testing and surgeries that followed her diagnosis in 2006, her family said. She had a very positive outlook on life. She was very resilient during that time, and was able to always have a smile on her face. And the nurses loved her, said the girl s mother, Belinda Torres. She would go (into the hospital) with her wigs on, and made the best time with all she was going through at the hospital. Paris was born February 21, 2003 with a purpose, her family said. A purpose to inspire others. The young singer and dancer always had a smile on her face, one that often made people stop to say hello, or get to know the young girl with an old soul. She had connections with everyone she encountered from young people to old people. She just knew what you needed, Torres said. When you were down, she was just a little chameleon, and no matter where she went, she befriended someone. She had 30-year-olds who were best friends, and went places with them because she was that old soul. Because Paris befriended several, her story spread, and became known around town, her family added. Her 17-year-old sister Heaven recognized young Paris on her softball jerseys with a pink P to recognize the girl and the strong bond they shared, Torres continued. In and out of hospitals her whole life often spending days and nights at Loma Linda University Children s Hospital and a medical facility in New York Paris opted to go through a natural treatment process to battle the cancer when it returned in May. It was her choice. She didn t want to go through chemo and go through its side effects, Torres said. It was her choice to do it a natural way with supplements and diet. It was not the easiest for a child so young. But she not want to go through the hospital... she wanted to be home and fight it here. She continued the fight up until her body couldn t take much more of it, she added. Her heart gave out. It was all the fight and her losing weight. But we didn t bring her home with what (the hospital) sent her home with. We had faith that God had a different purpose. And we re okay with that, because she s in an amazing place, Torres continued. Opening Sunday s service to the public was something Paris parents wanted to do because of how much the community embraced the family during their difficult time. She accomplished more than what people do in their lifetime, explains dad Miguel Alvino. She was about teaching everyone life is too short and learning to forgive, love and compassion, and just to be happy, have love and joy. Torres added, We just wanted to make sure everyone had the opportunity to celebrate her, because she deserves it. She changed a lot of lives for the better. She changed us for the better. She made us better people. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donates be sent to Way World Outreach in San Bernardino to help fund a playground for the less fortunate. Donations can be mailed to: Way World Outreach, c/o Playground Fund, 3701 N. Sierra Way, San Bernardino 92405.