"When we heard the word 'cancer,' we felt sad and weak," said Angel, Mayela's dad. "Our hearts broke for the pain and suffering our daughter would have to face."
Mayela began treatment in Puerto Rico for acute myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer, but was soon referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her family was familiar with St. Jude – they’d seen commercials for the hospital.
St. Jude patient Mayela poses with her puppet during filming for her TV spot
At St. Jude, Mayela underwent a bone marrow transplant in August 2018, with her dad serving as her donor. Her parents are thankful for the treatment and care she received.
When we walked through the doors of St. Jude, we felt we could breathe again. We trust it was God who brought us to the right place. We never imagined how beautiful it would be.
Mayela is an extrovert who enjoys learning her syllables, doing makeup on her dolls and playing with her mom.
“The attention, the dedication and the love the staff show to the parents and the patients is incredible,” said Angel. “We love the way doctors sit with us to explain every step of the process and how quick they are to respond to our needs. We love the happiness and how comfortable the staff make the families and patients feel. We love that St. Jude keeps looking for the cure for cancer.”
St. Jude patient Mayela during her filming with St. Jude supporter Luis Fonsi
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. We won't stop until no child dies from cancer.
Mayela has finished treatment and now visits St. Jude every six weeks. She’s in second grade and loves to play with dolls and do crafts. “She’s an extrovert, always talking,” said Karen, Mayela's mom. “She loves to make videos and have fun.”
Meet more patients
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Meet Claire
Claire is an adventurous girl from Utah who loves spending time outside with her siblings. And the cancerous brain tumor she's being treated for won't get in the way of that, with the help of St. Jude.
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Meet Eri'Elle
Eri’Elle was just two years old when her troubles started. Her mother took her to a pediatrician and insisted they run tests to get to the bottom of her baby’s symptoms.
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Meet Felicity
With a diagnosis of 5 tumors in her brain and spine, Felicity is facing a struggle, but you wouldn't know it by the constant smile on her face.
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Meet Griffin
As an Air Force family stationed abroad, Griffin’s family was living in Germany when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Veteran’s Day 2019.
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Meet Lydia
Lydia has an unusual hobby for a kid her age: reading scholarly articles in medical journals. But not just any articles. She’s interested in those authored by Dr. Gajjar, the man – along with nurses and researchers and others at St. Jude – working to save her life.
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Meet Scarlet
At St. Jude, Scarlet and her mom lived at Target House for half a year while Scarlet was in treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Her family never received a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. .
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Meet Calvin
At St. Jude, Calvin underwent chemotherapy, proton therapy and radiation treatments for rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue. He continues to receive treatment at St. Jude, having experienced a recurrence of cancer in 2020.
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Meet Twila
Twila was brought to her local hospital for an ear infection. When the pain didn’t resolve, doctors ran tests and found brain cancer. She was referred to St. Jude and placed on a treatment plan.
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Meet Brayden
Brayden received chemotherapy as well as proton therapy for medulloblastoma at the first proton therapy center in the world dedicated solely to children.
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Meet Krew
What started out as a seemingly innocent bump on the head was later heartbreakingly revealed as cancer. Krew was diagnosed with leukemia at just 7 months old.
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Meet Sariyah
In the summer of 2020, photos taken of St. Jude patient Sariyah by her mother showed signs of cancerous tumors in both eyes at the age of 18 months.
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Meet Ava
Five-year-old Ava had a cancerous brain tumor called medulloblastoma. Referred to St. Jude, she underwent a second surgery, proton therapy and chemotherapy.
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Meet Tina
Tina celebrates her quinceañera and a second chance at life after finishing her treatment for a brain tumor. During treatment, her family found hope at St. Jude.
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Meet Jean Pierre
At 18, Jean Pierre is headed to university. At three years old, he was treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® for craniopharyngioma, a slow-growing brain tumor.
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Meet Patient Lucas
Around Thanksgiving of 2020, three-year-old Lucas was complaining of headaches. His parents thought he just wanted attention. An MRI indicated something more serious.