A mural reflecting some of the things Alicia O'Brien-DiSandro loved in this life, as well as her love for other people, is now a permanent part of the school library at Martino Junior High School in New Lenox. The mural, painted by Tom Evans of Mokena, depicts dainty butterflies, delicate daisies and a very talkative looking parrot.
It was painted on the library wall over the poetry corner, which is dedicated to the junior high graduate who died last year of brain cancer.Alicia was all those things: dainty, beautiful and a real chatterbox, her friends said.
But she was also much more, said Regina Millner, administrative assistant at the school.
She lit up the school every day she arrived, because of her positive attitude, even when in a wheelchair, and even when chemotherapy removed her hair.
She faced life with a great sense of humor and was also someone who knew how to show love to everyone who came her way, Millner said.
"Alicia's cancer slowed her down at times, but couldn't stop her from doing the things she loved to do.
Alicia loved to write poetry, sing, dance and talk," she said.
Alicia, the daughter of April and Nick DiSandro of New Lenox, had a great zest for life, said her longtime friend Luke Gay, now a freshman at Lincoln-Way High School.
"She touched the hearts of so many people.
Alicia knew she didn't have the opportunity most kids had to live a long and full life.
So she decided to do everything she could to make her life as rich as it could be in the short time she had.
She found a way to express what she was going through in a way that made her so happy and touched so many people's lives," he said.
Alicia wrote many poems, which friends hope will soon be collected and published.
Alicia's brother Alan Didier, an eighth- grader at Martino, said he was able to watch the mural take shape when he had computer classes in the school library.
"I thought it was really good.
The guy took his time."
The part of the mural which reminds him most of his sister is the zebra, placed by Evans right in the center of the work.
The animal was a favorite of Alicia's. Despite her cancer, she had corresponded with a children's book author and ended up helping to illustrate a book.
She chose a zebra and a mountain range as an illustration in the book "Zink." The Martino mural contains a replica of her drawing.
"It's a beautiful thing that they are doing, dedicating the mural to Alicia.
The artist did a really good job.
The zebra looks exactly like hers," said Nick.
"We cannot thank Martino Junior High and Mr. Tom Evans enough for the beautiful gift they have given Alicia.
Students for years to come will read her poetry and get to know, and feel, how very special Alicia's was, and always will be," he said.
"Mr. Evans has done an amazing job painting this mural.
The butterflies, the flowers, and of course her Zebra are all so perfect.
I was able to watch him for a few moments and see how every little detail of her Zebra was matched.
I'm sure that I wasn't the only one watching though."
In one of Alicia's poems called "Time," she wrote: "Take every moment, hold it within your hand.
Just slow down and you'll start to understand."
"Now students, staff, and anyone else who walks in that library, can take a moment, hold a part of Alicia in their hands, and understand her love for life," her mother said.
Alicia never wanted people to see her as "the girl with cancer" but rather as Alicia, just a teen- ager like everyone else, said Millner.
"The problem was, Alicia wasn't like everyone else.
She had a gift, a faith, strength and an incredible love for all of life."
