St. Jude patient Valentina with her family
Valentina's story
Gretel, or as her parents like to call her, Valentina, has been showing her parents how valiant she is since the day she was born, her mother, Maria Antonieta, said.
Valentina, which is her middle name, was born with fluid in her brain, and later was diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), a softening of white brain tissue near the ventricles. She was also diagnosed with microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected.
When she was 3 years old, Valentina was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In acute myeloid leukemia, white blood cells, produced in bone marrow, are abnormal and do not become healthy cells.
St. Jude patient Valentina with her sister
St. Jude patient Valentina, with her dad
Doctors immediately referred Valentina to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and her parents instantly felt their daughter was going to get the best treatment.
I was sad, but also sort of felt peace because I told my husband that at least we are here and St. Jude was going to treat her, and it was the best place for her.
Valentina's mom, Maria Antonieta
St. Jude patient Valentina with her mom
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 Valentina with her family
Valentina received several rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant in 2022. Her father, Javier, was her donor.
Valentina is doing well and returns to St. Jude for regular checkups. Her mother said she will never forget the kindness of doctors and nurses during some of the most difficult times of their lives.
St. Jude is like family to me.
Valentina's mom, Maria Antonieta
When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer, like Valentina. Together, we can save more lives.
St. Jude patient Delta
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