Janelle is back home in Puerto Rico, with her twin sister Amalia, after receiving treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.
Janelle was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain tumor of the cerebellum, when she was 17 months old in 2021.
There’s a lot of feelings at the same time— loss of hope and brokenheartedness. As soon as you hear cancer, you don’t think anything good is going to come from that
- Genesis, Janelle's mom
Janelle underwent surgery in Puerto Rico to remove the tumor and was later referred to St. Jude. Genesis said she knew of the scientific breakthroughs made at St. Jude, in part because her father had been a monthly donor to the hospital for years.
Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
Our hope was a little bit restored. We heard good things of St. Jude, and if we had a chance to treat her there, she would have a little bit more of a chance.
- Genesis, Janelle's mom
At St. Jude, Janelle received chemotherapy for 16 months followed by six weeks of proton radiation therapy. She also underwent a procedure to replace a shunt in her brain. She returned home in June 2023. Janelle will return to Memphis for regular checkups.
St. Jude gave us security knowing our daughter had a better chance of life, and an opportunity to grow up with her sister, and that for us has meant everything.
- Genesis, Janelle's mom
Janelle, paciente de St. Jude, con su papá
When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer, like Janelle. Together, we can save more lives.