Heartbreak as nine-year-old girl who got her final wish to be an LA Rams cheerleader dies from cancer after nearly 30 rounds of chemotherapy
A nine-year-old girl whose final wish was to be a cheerleader for the LA rams has died following her five-year battle with cancer after nearly 30 rounds of chemotherapy.
Delilah Loya died on Sunday, two months before her tenth birthday, after being diagnosed with stage four Neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that forms from immature nerve cells, her mother Samantha confirmed in an Instagram post.
In December 2022, Loya's dream of being a LA Rams cheerleader came true.
Loya was brought into SoFi stadium with a blind fold on. When the blind fold was removed, she was greeted by the official LA Rams cheer squad, who gifted her a custom uniform as an early Christmas gift.
She ran onto the field during the game alongside the team.
Delilah Loya died on Sunday, two months before her tenth birthday after battling stage four Neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that forms from immature nerve cells, her mother Samantha confirmed in an Instagram post. She had been battling cancer for the last five years.
In December 2022, Loya's dream of being a LA Rams cheerleader came true. Loya was brought into SoFi stadium with a blind fold on. When the blind fold was removed, she was greeted by the official LA Rams cheer squad, who gifted her a custom uniform as an early Christmas gift
At the time KTLA reported on Loya's surprise, she had undergone nearly 25 rounds of chemotherapy.
Social media influencer Isaiah Garza partnered with the LA football team so that Delilah could join the cheer team for the weekend.
That year, her only Christmas wish was to be cancer free.
'This is the best day of my life, ' said Delilah to KTLA at the time. 'I'm going to beat cancer because I'm really strong. This is a dream come true.'
'It was so emotional to watch, words can't even describe how we felt,' Samantha told KTLA. 'Me and my husband, we both broke down, to just see Delilah having fun is a blessing.'
'I got to show my pom poms and they picked me up, it was so cool and so exciting,' Delilah told the local station.
At the time Loya's surprise made the news in 2022, she had undergone nearly 25 rounds of chemotherapy
Loya, whose favorite song 'Hey There Delilah' played on repeat during her treatments, was also personally serenaded by the lead singer of the Plain White Tee's Tom Higgenson in her hospital room, a post that went viral across social media.
'Oh baby girl, this is a loss to the entire world,' her mother wrote in the tribute to her daughter following her death. 'You were too good for this world! You deserved so much more so so much more! I tried to do everything in the world with you in just 10 years.
'We will live for you because you were taken way too soon. I'm sorry for the hand of cards life dealt us. Rest easy my sweet beautiful girl.
'At 10:25 Daddy carried her in his arms till her heart stopped beating, we sent her home to heaven then walked out of the hospital at 2am without our baby girl...It doesn't feel real.'
Loya, whose favorite song 'Hey There Delilah' played on repeat during her treatments, was also personally serenaded by the lead singer of the Plain White Tee's Tom Higgenson in her hospital room, a post that went viral across social media
A GoFundMe set up to help with Loya's medical bills has raised more than $140,000.
The family has since founded a nonprofit that also provides financial aid and essential items to families fighting cancer.
Her funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
