Cancer, Casually: Mary Carrillo of the Calvin Preston Foundation

This episode is one of our most moving to date. (Full warning: it doesn’t have a happy ending. But it does have a mother that exemplifies resilience, compassion, and the true definition of unconditional love.)Mary Carrillo gave birth to her first child, a son named Calvin in 2006. Just six years later, however, she stood by him as he was diagnosed with Leukemia. What happened in the next year was a blur of hospitalizations, countless procedures, and even a bone marrow transplant. Sadly Calvin's body was exhausted by seven and Mary faced two options: take him off the machines and let him go peacefully or watch while his body deteriorated slowly and painfully. She made the un-selfish decision to let him go. Calvin passed away in his mother’s arms in March 2014 surrounded by pure love. But that wasn’t the end. This incredible woman has turned the unthinkable into the hopeful as she has gone on to honor her son’s wishes to help other kids by creating the all volunteer-based Calvin Preston Foundation. She is now living a life filled with child’s laughter once again, becoming a mommy to a beautiful little girl named Cielo (which means heaven!) who reminds her of her son every day. Tune in to listen to one mother’s story of love and loss... and then love again.Listen on iTunes or Spotify.[soundcloud id='649224068' height='false']