In July of 2005, Grace began to have constant fevers and stopped walking due to pain in her legs and hips. Grisselle, her mother, took her to an orthopedist, who first believed the child had an infection in her hip. However, when her hemoglobin levels continued to decrease, her doctor immediately referred her to a hospital.
The results of an MRI revealed that Grace had a 7-inch tumor in her chest, and her condition was diagnosed as neuroblastoma, a common solid tumor of childhood. Grisselle never thought she would hear that her daughter was suffering from cancer. “It was the most painful moment in my life,” recalled Grisselle. “The doctors explained the illness to me and I knew that I had to look for help outside of my country.”
After reading about the treatments developed at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Grisselle asked her pediatrician to refer her daughter to St. Jude. “I was very scared, but from the moment I arrived at St. Jude, I knew that I was in the right place,” said Grisselle.
At St. Jude, the doctors successfully removed the tumor that was threatening Grace’s life. The child continues to receive treatment to eradicate the cancerous cells in her body. Please send your donation today and give mothers, like Grisselle, the hope of seeing their children grow up healthy.
Created by St Jude Patients