7 Years Old at Diagnosis
In the summer of 2009, my daughter, Victoria Mejia, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow that affects white blood cells.
Victoria began treatment immediately at Miami Children’s Hospital during that summer. She endured chemotherapy, blood transfusions, endless hours in the infusion room, blood work, surgery for her port, one week in PICU and a total of two weeks in the hospital upon diagnosis. Her prognosis was very good, and the doctors and nurses were all very positive about her future.
Victoria was released from the hospital in August 2009. That fall, she began her second grade of school being homeschooled. She then returned to regular schooling and excelled in her studies.
Victoria is currently in remission and just hit her five year mark! She goes every year for her annual checkup and for blood work. She attends the CAMP UOTS, an annual overnight camp trip for children with cancer and blood disorders, and would like to one day volunteer in the camp as a counselor.
I support the mission of CureSearch because I think it is truly the one huge fighting chance all the kids have to combat pediatric cancer. I hope one day all pediatric cancers have a cure and all children can be cancer-free. I believe CureSearch cured my daughter. With CureSearch and the treatments, cancer is a battle we can all win.
Victoria’s mother,
Maria Mejia
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