Local Student Loses Battle with Cancer

Lydia Valdez, a 9-year-old Little Harbour School student who fought a courageous battle against cancer and won the hearts of the city during her illness, passed away on Tuesday, according to school officials.

Sue Pederzoni, one of Little Harbour School's two guidance counselors, said guidance counselors from Little Harbour School, Portsmouth High School and the city's other schools were summoned to the the school on Wednesday to help students and staff cope with Lydia's death. She said Principal Charles Grossman held a meeting with school staff on Tuesday afternoon and then e-mailed parents to notify them.

"Yesterday was the major day where we had discussions in the classroom," she said. "Kids were allowed to talk to a counselor and some of them did."

Pederzoni added "the teachers did a wonderful job."

Paula Skelley, Lydia's mother, previously told Portsmouth Patch that her daughter was first diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and received treatment at the Jimmy Fund Clinic at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

The community and Little Harbour School rallied around Lydia for several months and raised more than $13,000 for the little girl via the "Lemonade for Lydia" campaign in November. Several of Lydia's classmates set up lemonade stands around the city and set up a special fundraising page.

Portsmouth Patch first wrote about Valdez in May when she was named a Pedal Partner of the 33^rd annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge. Lydia and her mom were also honored by the Boston Red Sox on May 19, 2012 in a pre-game ceremony.

Skelley told Portsmouth Patch in May that her daughter was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumor that develops in her muscle cells.

"She was a beautiful little girl who touched a lot of people," Pederzoni said. She also believes that the way Lydia fought her battle with cancer inspired many of her classmates.

"Listening to the kids, the fact that they could see it and acknowledge her strength on what she had gone through definitely had touched them," she said. "She was a special person the way she handled it."

Pederzoni said Lydia's funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at the North Church, with her burial to follow at the South Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, she said Lydia's family is asking that donations be made in her honor to Make-A-Wish Foundation and Camp Sunshine, two groups that really helped Lydia and her family over the past year.