STRATHMORE — A young child who died from brain-stem cancer was remembered and honored with a book signing and dedication during Thursday’s Back to School Night at Strathmore Elementary School.

Miguel “Mikey” Madrigal only attended the school for one year — kindergarten — but during that year, his life touched the other students, teachers and administrators.

“He always had a smile on his face, up until the very end,” said Strathmore Union Elementary School Superintendent David DePaoli. “We watched him get weaker and weaker and your heart just went out to him.”

Miguel died on August 25, 2006 but lives on eternally in a children’s book written by Dawn Castillo and illustrated by Bobby Rios —“The Special Little Boy.”

The book focuses on Miguel’s short life, following him through to his diagnosis with brain stem cancer, the day he received his wheel chair and to his passing.

“I was a teacher’s aide and I watched him on the playground,” Castillo said. “His father would always come, every day, and play with him, putting him on the slide and watching him.”

Castillo said she felt led to befriend the little boy and was inspired to enjoy life after meeting him.

“I knew the child and something kept telling me to write this book. He inspired me to write it. I wanted to help and decided to donate portions of the book sales to a couple of children’s cancer treatment centers,” Castillo said.

Castillo said she started writing the book a week after the child died.

“At first I kept throwing it away but on the first anniversary of his death, I decided to sit down and just write it,” Castillo said. “It took me about four to five hours to complete it and a few weeks to polish it up.”

She did not tell his parents until she finished writing it, Castillo said.

“They liked the idea and accepted it with open arms. They said yes to everything so I met with them and got more details to add,” Castillo said. “He got cancer at 2 and a half. He kept falling down a lot. They thought he just fell because he was little. Finally they went to see a doctor. They never noticed he had bruises that wouldn’t heal. I bring that up in the story — that the bruises were not noticed.”

Castillo said she hopes the book will help educate people on being observant of some of the early signs of Leukemia.

“He lived two and a half years longer,” Castillo said. “The ‘Make a Wish Foundation’ came and took him to Disneyland and then he died not long after.”

Castillo and Rios were on hand Thursday to autograph the book and talk to people.

“It took me about two months to illustrate the book,” Rios said. “We collaborated together on it. She told me what she had in mind and we worked on it.”

Rios also had access to several family photographs to base his drawings on.

“I’m happy for the family and for [Castillo] that this has taken off on a good start,” Rios said. “I’m excited for the project itself.”
The book was published in January.

Miguel’s family was also present for the book signing.

“We’re very happy because we know he is in a better place. And because of this book, even though he is gone, we know that many people will be touched by the example of the life he lived while he was here,” his father Joel Madrigal said. “We’re thankful that Dawn felt led to write this book.”

Miguel’s sister, Ana Madrigal, 11, said she feels her little brother’s presence whenever she looks at the book.

“I am happy but at the same time, my heart hurts because he is not here,” said his grandmother, Ana Madrigal. “He was an inspiration to his parents and to me. He always smiled, even up to the very end in his final moments, he tried to smile. He was a grandson like no other. I have a lot of grandchildren and they are all special but Miguel, he was very special. I thank God for the five years he was here. We have many beautiful memories of him and I know that someday we will see him again.”

The book is available online at Barnes and Noble, www.bn.com, Borders, www.borders.com, and at Amazon, www.amazon.com.

Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1047 or eavila@portervillerecorder.com.