Tributes

Ariel Leila Porter, 17, of Providence Village, Texas, passed away Thursday, August 12, 2021, in Dallas, Texas. She was born September 11, 2003, in Carrollton, Texas, to Dustin Porter and Tasha Celeste Ghanfili. Ariel loved her family and friends fiercely. During her time at Braswell High School, she participated in choir and dance, where she connected with friends and got to express herself. In the summer of 2019, Ariel was learning how to drive, and she was working part-time at a fast-food restaurant with her brother Alex. After being sick for months, Ariel and her family got an answer about why on Aug. 1, 2019. She was diagnosed with diffuse midline gliomas with the H3K27M mutation. Ariel decided cancer wouldn't keep her from reaching her goals, and she was determined to beat the disease. In response, her family members dedicated themselves to helping her and to making memories with her. Ariel also inspired the people around—family friends and the community—her to care and to help. From a young age, Ariel loved the beach. While she was in Houston at MD Anderson for the trial medication and traditional cancer treatments, Ariel would go to the beach with her family, soaking in the memories. It meant so much to her to meet her nephew, Marcell Mayo, and she was excited to meet Marcell's little brother, too. Despite having to travel back and forth to Houston regularly, Ariel set the goal of obtaining her GED, which she did as wrapped up her second round of radiation. Once Ariel achieved a goal, she set a new one. She was accepted into NCTC after completing her GED, and she was happy about starting classes. Never did she lose her positivity, her confidence and her faith that she would beat cancer to achieve her goals and be a source of hope for other kids facing the same disease. Her life and her participation in the drug trial means other kids and their families could have a chance of beating the brain cancer she fought. Ariel contracted COVID-19, which led to her being admitted to the hospital on Aug. 1, 2021. She again fought harder and survived longer than her medical team thought possible. Ariel was surrounded by her mother, father, stepmother, stepfather and additional family members as she passed. Ariel is survived by her mother, Tasha Celeste Cotton and husband Nathan of Providence Village; father, Dustin Porter and wife Alexandra of Aubrey, Texas; three brothers, Alexander and Aydan Porter both of Providence Village and Camron Cotton of Bossier City, Louisiana; sister, Cailey Cotton of Bossier City; maternal grandparents, Shaun Ghanfili of Rowlett, Texas, and Delores Barthuly and husband Roger of Dallas; paternal grandparents, Butch Porter and Laura Oates both of Tyler, Texas, and Nancy Whitford of Dallas; maternal great-grandparents, Merle Jean Bradford and husband Kenneth of Greenville, Texas, and Iran Rohanian of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and several aunts and uncles. A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, September 11, 2021, at Lake Providence in Providence Village. Online condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center

Tributes

Ariel Leila Porter

September 11, 2003 - August 12, 2021