Leah I. Velasquez

Leah Isabelle Velasquez was born on February 1, 2010, to her parents, Blanca Velasquez and Virgilio Ventura. Tragically in 2022, Leah was diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). After 17 months of a tremendously hard battle, Leah passed away recently in January 2024 at 13 years old. 

Leah can best be described as a force, a canvas painted with endless hues of creativity and innovation. Despite her brain tumor diagnosis and new physical challenges presented to her, and after coming home from the hospital after several days, she was more fueled than ever to share her love for crafts with the world. With the help of her parents and aunts, her Etsy shop, LIVArtsandCrafts, was launched in August 2022. Leah hand-made everything from wired-wrapped crystal rings to necklaces, beaded bracelets, and more. Currently, her shop remains incredibly successful, with over 300 total sales since her launch date. Her artistic abilities know no bounds, a whirlwind of ideas that demand attention and celebration. All the while, behind the scenes, Leah braved rounds of radiation, infusions, and participation in clinical trials. She put every ounce of effort into her physical and occupational therapy sessions to regain her independence, making the handmade pieces she sold all the more special. She persevered through all the obstacles before her and courageously showed her family that nothing would stop her from achieving her dreams.

Leah attended Charles Carroll Middle School for her 7th and 8th grade years. Before CCMS, she attended both Hollywood Elementary and Cooper Lane Elementary schools. She was an exemplary student, always striving to excel academically and make Mom and Dad proud with honor roll each quarter. She was also deeply admired by many of her teachers, who saw the same bright star her family did.

Leah’s list of hobbies had no end. Keeping pace with her ever-evolving interests becomes a delightful experience in and of its own. However, she was particularly interested in Lego building beginning at a very early age, putting together the most intricate pieces without breaking a sweat. As she got older, she leaned into her artistic abilities in creating, drawing, etc., and collected her deeply adored Smiskis’, Sonny angel mini figurines, plushies, and more, which brought her so much joy. Leah also had an incredible ear for music, which often became the best way she knew how to express herself when she couldn’t quite find the right words. Her ears touched just about every genre, and naturally, she dived into vinyl record collecting, which also became one of her favorite hobbies.

When Leah entered our world, she brought an undeniable aura, stitching her family together with an invisible thread of harmony and comfort. She seamlessly assumed the role of the emotional centerpiece, healing each family member in unique ways. It was as though destiny crafted her just for her family, especially for her mother, as if a missing piece had finally found its place.

Leah fiercely loved her family unit, which included her mother, Blanca Velasquez; her father, Virgilio Ventura; and her younger sister, Annia Ventura, who was two years old. Beyond her immediate family, she also deeply loved her grandfather, Carlos Velasquez; her grandmother, Blanca Alvarez-Velasquez; her aunts, Marta Alvarez and Maria Casoni; her uncle, Stefani Casoni; and smallest of the bunch, her baby cousin, one-year-old Giulia Casoni.

Leah will always be the beating heart that fuels her family’s collective joy and inspiration. Her family is privileged to have witnessed her flourish, and an honor to champion her uniqueness to the world.