Meet Valentina

St. Jude patient Valentina with her family

Valentina's story

Gretel, or as her parents like to call her, Valentina, has been showing her parents how valiant she is since the day she was born, her mother, Maria Antonieta, said.

Valentina, which is her middle name, was born with fluid in her brain, and later was diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), a softening of white brain tissue near the ventricles. She was also diagnosed with microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected.

When she was 3 years old, Valentina was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In acute myeloid leukemia, white blood cells, produced in bone marrow, are abnormal and do not become healthy cells.

St. Jude patient Valentina with her sister

St. Jude patient Valentina, with her dad

Doctors immediately referred Valentina to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and her parents instantly felt their daughter was going to get the best treatment.

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I was sad, but also sort of felt peace because I told my husband that at least we are here and St. Jude was going to treat her, and it was the best place for her.

Valentina's mom, Maria Antonieta

St. Jude patient Valentina with her mom

Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.

St. Jude patient Valentina with her family

Valentina received several rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant in 2022. Her father, Javier, was her donor.

Valentina is doing well and returns to St. Jude for regular checkups. Her mother said she will never forget the kindness of doctors and nurses during some of the most difficult times of their lives.