Bianca and Alejandra were first matched due to similarities, both suffering major loss in their lives. Bianca had the tools and the experience to help Alejandra get back on the right path

Alejandra was a bright, straight-A student with a bubbly personality. She had a very close relationship with her father, calling herself a daddy’s girl. However her world was turned upside down when she was 14 years-old when her father announced they were going to visit his home country of the Dominican Republic that summer, and where he suffered a heart attack and passed away. Alejandra came back to the United Stated feeling depressed and becoming more and more introverted. Her grades began to suffer to a point where her teachers feared she may fail out of her grade and thus reached out to BBBSNCA out of concern to see if the organization could assist.

Bianca used to work for Boeing for 9 years before being laid off. At the same time her mother was diagnosed with cancer and soon after passed away. Bianca was at a crossroads and looking for something more meaningful in her life. She turned to BBBSNCA to help a child dealing with loss using her own experience.

When Bianca and Alejandra were first matched, Alejandra was introverted and barely managed to smile. Bianca was an extrovert and full of joy, despite the challenges she had faced in her life. After meeting Bianca for the first time, she couldn’t stop laughing at her jokes and they became an unfathomable match!

Unfortunately, a year after they were matched, Alejandra was diagnosed with Leukemia at 16 years old. She went through a difficult treatment process, which left her immune system low and unable to leave the house to go to school. Alejandra’s mother had created a day care center in their home, which was their main source of income for the family and had to quickly close due to Alejandra’s condition. Yet Alejandra persevered and completed her semester at school online and her treatments. During this trying time for Alejandra and her family, Bianca stayed in communication via text, which helped encourage Alejandra and keep her spirits high.

Alejandra is now cancer free, has graduated on time and has recently received an $80,000 scholarship from Marymount University, from where she plans to become a Pediatric Oncologist to assist other children with cancer.