Everyone at the ABC7 Gibbons 5K Run and 3K Walk has a reason for showing up. For some, it’s deeply personal. We’re honored to share this moving story from a participant running in memory of her beloved mom, Christina “Kiki” Infante.

My mom passed away on September 4, 2024, after a hard-fought battle with myelofibrosis that transformed into acute myeloid leukemia (AML), for which she was being treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

As strange as it sounds, the last three weeks of her life in Houston will remain some of the most special moments we shared as a family. While facing imminent death, she remained entirely herself. She was loving, courageous, talkative, and funny. She held “center stage” for hours a day, telling stories and making us all laugh through our tears. She expressed her worries and wishes for us all. We had a chance to hear stories, new and old, and ask all the questions we could think of while we still had the chance.

Still, I find myself everyday wishing I had a chance to ask one more question and hear one more story from her. In one of those conversations, we asked her: what was the happiest time of your life? She thought about it for only a moment and said, “It is not anything fancy or a particularly special occasion; I just think back on those days when the whole family — all 5 of us and the dogs — would pile into bed together to watch a movie. I remember looking around and thinking to myself in these moments: ‘Man… now this is life'” This answer encapsulates her perfection.

She was the glue of our family, and her biggest worry and goal was ensuring the success and happiness of her children and husband. As a mother of two myself, this response cycles in my head everyday as I look around at my family. I look at those small moments and remember that these are the ones I will treasure at the end of the day.

Watching her fight this disease was a harrowing experience and it highlighted the strength we already knew she had. I pray every day for cancer to be eradicated from this earth. I pray that we will not have to watch another friend or family member find this type of strength to fight.

I know the ABC7 Gibbons 5K Run and 3K Walk is one small step in that direction – but we will take every step forward that we can. 

Stories like this inspire us to keep walking and running—to honor those we’ve lost, support vital research, and take another step toward a world without leukemia. Join us by registering to walk, run, fundraise, or volunteer: https://leukemiarf.org/gibbons5k/

If you would like to donate to this team’s fundraiser, visit https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/alyssainfante