In April 2016, Diana got dressed up to celebrate her long-awaited quinceañera. But for Diana and her family, this moment went beyond the festivities. Just a year before, Diana’s future was uncertain after her family received devastating news.
When Diana was 14 years old, her parents noticed she was sleeping more than usual. “It really surprised us, because Diana’s always been a very active girl,” said her mother, Nidia. Just weeks later, tests in their home country of Honduras revealed Diana suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
The family traveled to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for Diana’s treatment and care. “We wanted Diana to be at the best hospital,” said Nidia. “St. Jude is an oasis. It’s a place that gives you hope.” At St. Jude, Diana’s treatment includes two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy.
Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90%, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.
St. Jude is an oasis. It’s a place that gives you hope.
“Here at St. Jude, you’ll find everything you need to move forward,” said Nidia. “As parents, we only have to worry about Diana’s health.”
This fall, Diana will start the tenth grade. When she grows up, she wants to be a doctor.
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