During the fall of 2017, Tina became nauseous and started to throw up almost daily.
Her parents, Vicente and Marina, took her to the pediatrician who determined that Tina had a virus. But 10 days later, Tina was still sick.
Tina with her family in 2018
We went to the hospital... Within 40 minutes, they told us Tina had a brain tumor.
— Vicente, Tina's dad
St. Jude patient Tina in a hospital bed
A biopsy revealed the tumor was a type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma.
Tina was then referred to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Families, like Tina's, will never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
When we learned Tina had cancer, it was the worst news we’ve ever received. You never think something like this could happen to you.
— Vicente, Tina's dad
Tina’s family arrived at St. Jude in January 2018. Her treatment included 30 sessions of proton therapy and four months of chemotherapy.
Tina on the St. Jude campus
Her family is thankful for the care she’s received – and how much St. Jude provided for their family.
St. Jude took the financial worry away. St. Jude allows families like ours to have our child treated with the best team behind us.
— Vicente, Tina's dad
Tina is now finished with treatment and returns for regular scans.
She is an honor student who loves to play tennis and spend time watching videos and playing cards with her sister.
Tina with her parents in 2021
Tina in 2021
St. Jude kept our family together... it's a little piece of heaven on earth.
— Vicente, Tina's dad
St. Jude patient Tina at her quinceañera
Five years after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Tina's big dream came true. Tina was able to celebrate her quinceañera alongside her family and friends. The makeup and the dress completed Tina's special day and made her feel like a princess.
St. Jude patient Tina dances at her quinceañera
It was a happy day that would not have been possible without the help of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
As a cancer patient, I feel this moment was very important. It shows what I went through and how I'm doing well, thanks to St. Jude.
— St. Jude patient Tina
Meet more patients
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Meet Yazleemar
Yazleemar is an outgoing and expressive teenager. In 2012, Yazleemar was diagnosed with retinoblastoma. St. Jude offered them much more than treatment.
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Meet Gideon
After Gideon was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, he was referred to St. Jude for immediate treatment.
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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 Charlie
Diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in his shoulder, Charlie was referred to St. Jude then underwent chemotherapy and surgery to replace a cancerous bone with titanium.
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Meet Ava
At 6 years old, Ava had a lump on her neck and tests showed she had more lumps in her belly. Tests revealed that she had a cancerous tumor and was referred to St. Jude.
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Meet Kamryn
At 2 years old, Kamryn's bloodwork indicated he had a form of blood cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Doctors referred him to St. Jude where he would undergo more than 2 years of chemotherapy while growing to love activities like Music Therapy.
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Meet Luxe
As a kindergartener, Luxe’s legs became so covered in bruises that her parents took her to the doctor. Luxe was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia.
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Meet Eliza
Eliza’s pediatrician referred her to an ophthalmologist after testing her eyes. In turn, she was referred to St. Jude as a tumor was visible in her right eye.
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Meet Rinoa
Rinoa had an MRI due to headaches and, later, double vision. Doctors found a cancerous brain tumor called medulloblastoma and was soon referred to St. Jude.
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Meet Adalyn
Adalyn had stomachaches that came and went with episodes of severe pain. At the ER, doctors found a large mass above her kidney, stage-4 high-risk neuroblastoma.
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Meet Braxton
Braxton was discovered to have a brain tumor at just 6 weeks old, with more scary news to follow. But St. Jude has given this family a lot to look forward to.
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Meet Chance
Chance was diagnosed with metastatic medulloblastoma. After surgery, referred to St. Jude, he received chemotherapy and proton therapy treatments to his brain and spine.
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Meet patient Natalie
Natalie seemed like a healthy toddler. But one day, she stopped using her left arm. She had Stage IV neuroblastoma and was referred to St. Jude for treatment.
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Meet our patient Emma
Tests revealed that Emma had a mass on her brain. A biopsy led to a referral to St. Jude where she was diagnosed with ATRT, a rare form of brain cancer.
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Meet Amris
In July of 2012, doctors found a kiwi-sized tumor on patient Amris’ brain. She was diagnosed with ATRT. With a referral, Amris arrived at St. Jude.