Meet Tina

In 2017, Tina was diagnosed with a brain tumor called medulloblastoma.

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Tina's story

During the fall of 2017, Tina became nauseous and started to throw up almost daily.

Her parents, Vicente and Marina, took her to the pediatrician who determined that Tina had a virus. But 10 days later, Tina was still sick.

 
Tina smiling with her sister, mother and father in 2018.

Tina with her family in 2018

 
 

We went to the hospital... Within 40 minutes, they told us Tina had a brain tumor.

— Vicente, Tina's dad

 
Tina prior to treatment.
 

A biopsy revealed the tumor was a type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma.

Tina was then referred to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

 
 

When we learned Tina had cancer, it was the worst news we’ve ever received. You never think something like this could happen to you.

— Vicente, Tina's dad

Tina’s family arrived at St. Jude in January 2018. Her treatment included 30 sessions of proton therapy and four months of chemotherapy.

 
St. Jude patient Tina smiling outside St. Jude wearing a colorful tie dyed summer camp shirt.

Tina on the St. Jude campus

 
 

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 Tina smiling on a couch wearing a black pom pom hat in front of a St. Jude sign.
 

Her family is thankful for the care she’s received – and how much St. Jude provided for their family.

St. Jude took the financial worry away. St. Jude allows families like ours to have our child treated with the best team behind us.

— Vicente, Tina's dad

 
 

Tina is now finished with treatment and returns for regular scans.

She is an honor student who loves to play tennis and spend time watching videos and playing cards with her sister.

 
Tina with her parents in 2021.

Tina with her parents in 2021

 
 
St. Jude patient Tina outside the Grand Canyon in 2021.

Tina in 2021

 

St. Jude kept our family together... it's a little piece of heaven on earth.

— Vicente, Tina's dad

 
 
St. Jude patient Tina at her quinceañera

St. Jude patient Tina at her quinceañera
 

Five years after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Tina's big dream came true. Tina was able to celebrate her quinceañera alongside her family and friends. The makeup and the dress completed Tina's special day and made her feel like a princess.

 
St. Jude patient Tina dances with her family at her quinceañera

St. Jude patient Tina dances at her quinceañera
 
 
St. Jude patient Tina at her quinceañera
 

It was a happy day that would not have been possible without the help of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

 
 

As a cancer patient, I feel this moment was very important. It shows what I went through and how I'm doing well, thanks to St. Jude.

— St. Jude patient Tina

 
St. Jude patient Tina at her quinceañera
 
 
Closeup of St. Jude patient Tina holding a photo of her while she was getting treated for cancer.
 

Help make lifesaving cures possible for kids like Tina.

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A gold ribbon that symbolizes awareness of childhood cancer for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
 

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.

Learn About Childhood Cancer

 
St. Jude patient Misheel smiling while flexing her arm muscle with a yellow ribbon.

St. Jude patient Misheel

 
 

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