WEBSTER, N.Y. — In 2010, a Rochester-area woman trusted Casey Bortnick to share her daughter's story. She was a brave little 4-year-old named Julianne. Her mother hoped sharing her experience would help others. It did. It still is. As Casey recently found out, "Julianne's Journey," and her mother's mission, continues.  

It's said music is a journey. For a Rochester-area mother, pursuing music has been a path of self-discovery.

“I always wanted to be musical in some respects,” Shari Miller said. “But I was a mom. I was raising children and baking cakes and casseroles. There wasn’t a lot of time.”

Miller is relatively new to the Rochester music scene. She looked pretty comfortable during a recent February charity event at Buntsy’s Neighborhood Food & Drink in Webster.

“I got to go to a few open mics and make new friends, and they were like ‘come on up and learn’ and I learned so much,” Miller recalled. 

This event was a fundraiser for the C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association. The nonprofit been providing financial, educational and emotional support for families dealing with a cancer diagnosis for 40 years. For Miller, it’s a cause that’s personal.

"It was all about giving for someone else and that was just how she really was even at 4 years old,” she said. “She was such an old soul.”

Julianne Miller was Shari's youngest child. She was caring, full of life and, as Shari describes her, wise beyond her years. In 2010, Julianne was diagnosed with an inoperable form of brain cancer. It’s a condition she battled with the help of her family, doctors, and an experimental drug. It all bought her valuable time. It was 10 months of fighting that Shari now refers to as "Julianne's Journey."

"And she had an acceptance,” Shari said. “She never complained.” 

The treatments changed Julianne's appearance and eventually left her unable to walk, but it didn't stop her. She continued to go to preschool, have play dates and make the most of life. On Christmas Eve, a day before her favorite holiday, Julianne passed away, but her spirit lived on.

"That's where Julianne's Journey to Christmas Joy came to be,” she said. “And where else would we want it to go and put out efforts towards than the C.U.R.E Childhood Cancer Association."

C.U.R.E. has been providing financial, educational and emotional support for families dealing with a cancer diagnosis for 40 years. Through years of fundraisers, Shari and her family have collected thousands of toys and nearly $50,000.

"So the fact that Shari has turned such a horrendous experience into something so beautiful in honor of her little light. It's overwhelming," said C.U.R.E Executive Director Holly Dutcher. 

"I thought I was supposed to be the example to her as her mom, but [Julianne] was the example to me,” Shari said. “And she continues to be.”

It's an example Shari needed. Her journey included a new career in social work and her own battle with colon cancer. Now cancer-free, Shari has a renewed passion for living.

"I have built a voice and I'm not afraid to put myself out there,” she said.

Twelve years later, after celebrating what would have been her 17th birthday, Julianne's journey continues. She’s inspiring her mother to live life to the fullest, and a community to help others in her name.

"As a mom all you want if for your children to make a difference,” Shari said. “Some kind of difference in the world and, oh my goodness, even at 4 years old she has made quite a difference. So I'm pretty grateful."

If you'd like to support Julianne's Journey to Christmas Joy, you can find out more information through C.U.R.E. online.

Shari also published a memoir on her experience. You can find it on Amazon.