Anita Andrews has a very special reason behind her volunteer work with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. For the past three years she has been setting up bake sales in the lobby of the hospital every other week offering delicious treats, most made by her.  She started doing this in memory of her granddaughter Briana Vega, who passed away in 2014 after a two-year battle with leukemia.

Anita channeled all of the passion and strength with which Briana lived into giving back to the hospital where she underwent treatment. To date, she has raised over $30,000 to fund equipment for Child Life and Radio Lollipop, two departments that helped Briana in the time she spent at Nicklaus Children’s. Thanks to her support, many patients who are going through similar situations as Briana’s will be able to use the equipment as a means of fun and distraction while they are at the hospital for treatment.

Briana’s legacy lives on through Anita’s charitable work. She is always happy to speak about her granddaughter’s love for life so that her spirit continues to inspire others, even to this day. To remember her granddaughter, Anita always keeps a part of Briana with her, the same stuffed toy that was Briana’s favorite. A heartfelt thank you to Anita for her generosity and dedication to the patients of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.