From the time he was a baby, Alberto was an active and joyful boy who always had a smile to share. As a 1-year-old, he already loved sports, especially soccer, basketball and baseball. But in August 2016, Alberto suddenly began to lose his balance. “It got progressively worse until he stopped walking completely,” said his mother, Nallely.
Concerned, she took him to a local hospital, where doctors discovered a mass in Alberto’s brain. An MRI soon revealed Alberto suffered from a rare brain tumor identified as an embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes (ETMR).
Following the recommendation of their doctors, Alberto and his family turned to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for his treatment and care.
Alberto at the statue of St. Jude.
At St. Jude, Alberto underwent an aggressive treatment protocol that included surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, all at no cost to his family. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
We are very thankful for St. Jude. St. Jude allowed us to focus completely on Alberto.
When Alberto first began his protocol, he responded well to treatment and started to recuperate his strength and walking ability. It was during this time that Alberto’s charming personality shined the brightest. Alberto captured the hearts of all those around him, as he never missed an opportunity to give an encouraging thumbs-up to go along with his kind smile.
Unfortunately, Alberto’s condition soon changed and his cancer continued to progress. Despite the tireless efforts of St. Jude doctors, Alberto, a boy with a warm and friendly heart, passed away in September 2017.
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