![St. Jude patient Camila wears a grey rainbow shirt while folding her hands.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-our-patient-camila/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_13/par-1/cnt_column_copy/par-1/image_v2.img.16.medium.jpg/1724793257271.jpg)
Camila's story
Camila was desperate to go to the playground one morning as her mother spoke on the phone. “I want to go play,” she implored. Her mother, Ana, was reminded again how Camila’s energy was back then, even as her youngest daughter, now 3, was still undergoing cancer treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Camila was diagnosed three days before her 3rd birthday in September 2023 with Wilms tumor, a solid cancerous tumor of the kidney that arises from immature kidney cells.
“A lot of things came to my mind at that moment, but the first thing was bringing her to St. Jude,” Ana said. Camila underwent surgery in Kentucky and was then referred to St. Jude.
“The same day that we arrived we got tests, and she started treatment within a few days that we got here,” she said. At St. Jude, Camila has received proton radiation therapy and weekly chemotherapy.
![St. Jude patient Camila wears a hairbow and pink sweater and is held by her mother.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-our-patient-camila/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co/par-1/cnt_column_copy_1126/par-1/image_v2.img.16.medium.jpg/1724793245596.jpg)
![St. Jude patient Camila wears a grey headband while her mom kisses her.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-our-patient-camila/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_409267213_co/par-1/cnt_column_1090674532/par-1/image_v2.img.16.medium.jpg/1724793220923.jpg)
St. Jude means everything. Here I have a lot of hope, and I feel that when we leave here, she will be cured.
Camila's mom, Ana
![Camila wears a grey handband while her dad hugs her.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-our-patient-camila/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co_486493604/par-1/cnt_column_copy_1126/par-1/image_v2_copy.img.16.medium.jpg/1724859724132.jpg)
St. Jude patient Camila with her father
“She’s eating good, drinking, playing and running,” she said, Ana, noting her favorite foods are steak tacos and chocolate ice cream. “She’s back to herself just wanting to play.”
Camila enjoys playing with her older siblings, which include two sisters and three brothers. She also likes strolls in the park and painting.
Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
![St. Jude patient Camila plays with a toy house while sitting in a yellow patient room.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-our-patient-camila/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_830033820_co/par-1/cnt_column_199671352_1184503068/par-1/image_v2_396458008.img.16.medium.jpg/1724704952917.jpg)
St. Jude patient Camila
Help make lifesaving cures possible for kids like Camila.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
One in five children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. won’t survive. Join St. Jude this September as we honor those with pediatric cancer. St. Jude won't stop until no child — anywhere — dies from cancer.
![St. Jude patient Misheel smiling while flexing her arm muscle with a yellow ribbon.](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/meet-our-patients/meet-our-patient-camila/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_row_copy_copy_co_1352718292/par-1/cnt_column_755157092/par-1/image_v2.img.16.medium.jpg/1723734944293.jpg)
St. Jude patient Misheel