CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Four-year-old Virginia Rose Vandermark lost her battle with cancer Tuesday morning. Virginia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia on April 9. Days later, the Vandermarks found out Virginia’s 7th chromosome was mutated, putting her in the high-risk category of the illness.
Within three weeks of being diagnosed, Virginia completed a 10-day round of chemotherapy — a treatment her parents had hoped would remove the cancer.
The family released the following statement on Tuesday:
Virginia Rose went to be with Jesus this morning just after 9AM. She was in the arms of her mother and father as she took her last breath here on this Earth. It was a blessing for her to be at home in her room where she was very comfortable, no pain or anxiety as she rested. We are grateful to all our family and the support, strength, love, from the community poured out to our family these last 9 months.
As you can imagine, this is a very difficult day. We respectfully ask for time and privacy as we say our goodbyes, and make proper arrangements for her celebration service. Once details have been confirmed, we will let everyone know dates, time, and location. She will be having her heavenly birthday party and we will celebrate it together.
As medical bills piled up, friends, neighbors, and even complete strangers banded around the Vandermarks.
On Saturday, May 2, the Chesterfield Sheriff’s Department hosted a car wash to help raise money for the family.
In addition, a woman named Renee Trivisonno Friday rallied the community around “Caroling and Cards for Virginia Rose,” a fundraiser to throw the little girl a Christmas party she would never forget. Trivisonno said the neighbors raised an estimated $800 in gift cards for Virginia Rose in addition to the holiday celebration complete with carolers, a parade of vehicles and eye-popping decorations.
If you’d like to learn more about Virginia Rose and her cause, click here. Or click here to donate to her GoFundMe page.
