‘Faith, courage and strength’ helped Luis Carlos through cancer treatment at St. Jude
The support of his loved ones, along with their family motto, gave him focus during treatment.
October 28, 2025 • 4 min
Luis Carlos is the kind of teenager who can find a reason to smile, even in the toughest times. His good sense of humor shines through every challenge.
His parents, Maria and Luis, described him as witty yet tender and caring, noting his strong connection with the family.
"He likes to spend time with us and help me out at home, and with his two sisters as well," said Maria. "He is very loving and has a great zest for life."
At 14 years old, Luis Carlos is also capable of talking about serious topics and inspiring others with his story. He has learned to value living fully from a very young age.
His appreciation for life took on a new dimension in 2022 when, after experiencing headaches regularly, he began having worsening symptoms like vertigo, dizziness and vomiting. After numerous medical exams and an MRI done the day after Halloween, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor that was later confirmed to be medulloblastoma.
Maria remembers that, from the moment they received the news, everything happened fast. “It was surreal,” she said.
Shortly after, Luis Carlos had surgery to remove the tumor.
Amid the confusion and fear, the family adopted three words to live by that guided them through the entire process. Before her son went into surgery, Maria asked him a question: “What do you hope to inspire in others?” Luis Carlos answered,
faith, courage and strength.
Since then, Maria said they have always chosen those words as their motto since that is exactly what they want to inspire.
Wanting to keep those words close, the family turned their motto into something they could wear.
Luis Carlos’ father explained that it was the inspiration behind bracelets the family made to remind themselves that they had what it takes to keep going during hard moments.
Luis Carlos incorporated his favorite color, red, as a personal touch that reflected his personality.
“Sometimes we all run short on a few things, but the faith we had to have to know everything would be ok, the courage and strength to continue facing the harshest of moments, came easy with him because he showed it and keeps showing it every day,” his father said.
After surgery to remove the brain tumor, Luis Carlos was referred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, where he continued his treatment. At St. Jude, he was treated with chemotherapy and proton beam radiotherapy.
While undergoing treatment, his room at St. Jude was always filled with Lego. He spent hours building colorful, imaginary worlds which brought him comfort and fun, while his family provided love and support. Throughout his time at St. Jude, they also prepared to welcome a new family member.
"I was pregnant with my second daughter (third child) at that time, and he wanted to comfort me when I should have been comforting him. He always maintained his strength and courage and was concerned for the well-being of the rest of the family," Maria said.
During treatment, one of the most touching moments for his parents was when Luis Carlos named his younger sister, Nova Grace, drawing inspiration from the astronomical term “supernova.” A supernova occurs when a star explodes, briefly shining brighter than an entire galaxy.
"When they explode, it's a beautiful blast, with lights and everything. So that's why," Maria said with a smile.
Luis Carlos also had moments of deep reflection. His mom said he's very aware that his carefree, innocent days were abruptly ended by the diagnosis.
He basically pointed out that his childhood was gone at one moment,
Maria recalled about the first anniversary of the diagnosis when her son was about to celebrate Halloween at St. Jude.
Despite the pain and limitations of being treated for a cancerous brain tumor, Luis Carlos never lost his passion for sports, especially baseball. Before his diagnosis, he played in a local league. According to his mother, after completing treatment, he decided to return to the field slowly, starting at the batting cages and practicing at his grandpa's house. During the fall of 2024, he was free of cancer and able to play with other kids again.
Luis Carlos takes pride in his Hispanic roots, and he found comfort in the little things that reminded him of who he was beyond the hospital walls.
Maria lights up with a mix of tenderness and humor as she recalls one of the few things that could always lift Luis Carlos’ spirits during treatment: tacos. “It's a cliché,” she said with a laugh, “but when we couldn't get him to eat, steak tacos were his way to go.”
That sense of identity showed up in other ways, too. "Before we knew it, he had a baseball glove with a Mexican flag on the inside. He would listen to a couple of songs in Spanish: 'Mi Gente' by J Balvin and Willy William, and 'Danza Kuduro' by Don Omar. These were the main songs on his playlist that would be on repeat,” Luis Carlos' dad said.
Nowadays, Luis Carlos returns to St. Jude every three months for checkups.
He is back at school full-time and is "enjoying it very much," said Maria. He just started 9th grade and has become more involved at church.
Looking ahead, Luis Carlos dreams of playing for the University of Mississippi and has already taken a big step in that direction — he made the high school baseball team.
"We are so proud to see that he is thriving, and we are supporting him in everything his heart desires," his mother said.
Luis Carlos continues to work out at home, applying everything he learned during therapy. His sisters often join him, attempting pull-ups on the rail while he supports them.
His aspirations include becoming an animator, graphic designer and owning his own business.
Most importantly, he aims to live a healthy life.
