It has to be one of the most charming moments for an artist to see a child embrace your work with love and enthusiasm.
Ciara wanted to give a positive message and a Disney surprise after seeing a cute video of Aubrey English dancing to her hit song “Level Up” while receiving cancer treatment.
While appearing on Good Morning America with her family on Jan. 3, Ciara surprised the little fighter with a teary-eyed message and a Disney World vacation. Princess Tiana from the Disney film The Princess and the Frog was also invited to relay the message that she will be meeting the family soon.
“OH MY GOODNESS. I’M IN TEARS RIGHT NOW. AUBREY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT YOU ARE A SUPERHERO. YOU ARE THE REAL SUPERHERO,” CIARA SAID. “AND I’M SO IMPRESSED BY YOUR STRENGTH AND HOW YOU NEVER GAVE UP IN YOUR BATTLE AGAINST CANCER. YOU INSPIRE ME AND SO MANY PEOPLE AND SO MANY OTHERS.”
“YOU ARE A REAL ‘LEVEL UP’ PRINCESS SO KEEP LEVELING UP AND INSPIRING SO MANY, AUBREY. I’M SO PROUD OF YOU AND ROOTING FOR YOU ALWAYS, SHE ADDED.”
English was diagnosed with a rare kind of liver cancer called hepatoblastoma in 2018, shortly before she turned three, and is now in remission. Ciara learnt she was battling cancer the same year, while her exuberant dance skills in a video that went viral on social media grabbed the hearts of millions. Her mother annotated the video with an uplifting message while she was having treatment.
“DEAR CHILDHOOD CANCER, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I WON’T GIVE UP. I WON’T GIVE IN,” ENGLISH’S MOTHER WROTE IN ACCOMPANYING THE VIDEO. “YOU WON’T TAKE MY SPIRIT. YOU WON’T TAKE MY SPUNK. YOU MAY BE IN MY LIFE BUT YOU DON’T HAVE MY LIFE.”
The young girl’s family worked hard to keep her spirits up while she was in the hospital.
“SHE WAS STILL HAPPY AND SMILING AND DANCING,” HER MOTHER SAID ON GMA. “SHE IS A JOY. SHE IS REALLY RAMBUNCTIOUS. SHE’S ALWAYS BEEN VERY POSITIVE, EVEN ON THE WORST DAY. SHE ABSOLUTELY IS MY HERO. SHE ABSOLUTELY IS,” SHE ADDED.
