Despair to healing: How Valentina found lifesaving care 2,500 miles from home

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Paola never imagined that the cancer diagnosis of her youngest daughter, Valentina, would lead her to temporarily leave her husband and her eldest daughter.

“I cried the whole way here,” Paola recalled.  

Valentina had been fine just a few months earlier. She was 4 years old, energetic and full of curiosity, discovering the world around her in Ecuador’s capital city of Quito in the Andes mountains. During the last few days of June 2024, things changed. Valentina’s maternal grandmother noticed a small firm lump in her belly. She called Paola, who was at work, and they met at the emergency room at a nearby hospital.

Valentina was admitted. Paola spent the weekend in the hospital while her little girl waited to undergo CT scans and several other tests.  

As more tests were completed and they awaited results, Valentina's family became increasingly concerned. On July 3, 2024, Paola met with an oncologist whose words hit her like a wave: Valentina had Wilms tumor, the most common type of kidney cancer in children. It wasn’t just one tumor. Valentina was one of the 5-10% of children with Wilms tumor who have tumors in both of their kidneys, known as bilateral Wilms tumor. 

Valentina began chemotherapy within days of her diagnosis and continued treatment through July, August and September.  

At first, she seemed to respond well. But after two months, doctors found the tumors hadn’t shrunk. Surgery was scheduled to remove her left kidney, which contained the largest tumor. It took place in September and lasted six hours.

As the family waited for next steps, Valentina was referred to St. Jude, 2,500 miles from home because of the hospital’s extensive experience treating children with rare bilateral Wilms tumors. In fact, around 15% of children in the United States with bilateral Wilms tumors undergo surgery at St. Jude. 

Less than a week after arriving at the hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, Valentina underwent surgery. This time she had a nephron-sparing surgery, with a goal of removing only the tumor and preserving as much healthy tissue in her right kidney as possible.  This approach maintains high survival rates while allowing children the greatest chance of avoiding kidney failure and dialysis.

Valentina’s surgery was followed by treatment on a clinical trial that uses proton beam radiotherapy to treat Wilms tumor, and she continued treatment with chemotherapy. Her response to chemotherapy has been carefully monitored since her body is processing the medications with one injured kidney.     

Paola's concerns — including how she would pay for treatment — began to disappear soon after arriving at St. Jude. There, the staff explained that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.

“This was a dream,” Paola said. “St. Jude is a blessing to us, and it gives us hope.” 

Longing for home  

Paola describes Valentina as a sweet and imaginative girl who not only completed her family when she was born but also brought them closer.  

Valentina misses her dad, Diego, and her sister, Wendy, and the simple joys of home. Among them are the yellow potatoes that her family harvests and the flavors of the typical Ecuadorian food that her grandmother cooks with a lot of love. Paola works hard to make those dishes that remind Valentina of home and spark her appetite when nothing else will.  

Valentina and Paola are grateful for the friends they have made in Memphis, many of whom have supported them through some difficult times. They spent Christmas and New Year's Eve at St. Jude, a very different experience from the large family gatherings they have at home.  

Both were looking forward to the arrival of midnight on December 31, curious to see how New Year was celebrated in another country. But when they looked out the window of their apartment, everything was dark and silent. It was a stark contrast to celebrations in Ecuador, which include fireworks, dancing and life-sized dolls stuffed with paper, fabric and other materials, that represent the "old year.” The dolls are set ablaze on the street to add to the revelry.

"Valentina said she was going to sleep because it was boring," Paola said with a laugh. 

Some unfamiliar experiences were exciting though. The new year and the Memphis winter brought an opportunity for Valentina to experience snow for the first time.

Paola said she will always be grateful for St. Jude and how well they have taken care of her daughter.  

“I believe Valentina has a strong chance to grow up,” she said. “The doctors are very reassuring, and the place is designed to care not only for the well-being of the children, but also for the caregivers.”