Pepe's special quinceañera dance

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Dressed in a purple vest, black shirt and tailored slacks, Pepe stood poised, cradling white strappy heels on a satin pillow. His family and friends watched with eager anticipation. On this Sunday, his family had gathered in Tennessee to celebrate his oldest sister’s 15th birthday, her quinceañera. 

Pepe, who had battled cancer as a baby and was treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® had been chosen to play a key role in the quinceañera, a traditional coming-of-age celebration in Latin American cultures. He stood by his older brother, Daniel, while his sister, Joana, who he affectionately calls Jojo, sat front and center in her lavender ball gown, decorated with butterfly appliques.  

A cherished tradition of the festivities was about to unfold — the changing of shoes, a symbolic passage into womanhood. Joana had chosen her little brothers for the important role of carrying the shoes to her and placing them on her feet.

As Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be In My Heart” played, Daniel, 12, knelt before Joana and removed her white sneakers. Then Pepe, 9, walked over and presented Joana the heels. His eyes welled up. His emotions spilled over. Joana, equally moved, whispered, “Don’t cry.”   

“It feels great to have Pepe here with me today,” said Joana, who had requested that she have a special dance with her brothers. “I remember when I was little, I didn’t understand what he was going through, but I knew he was really sick, and that scared me a little bit. But I knew Pepe was going to get better and it makes me feel really good that he gets to be here with me.”

When Joana’s heels hit the floor as she stood up from her chair, her brothers were beside her. Then she gently took their hands and turned to each of them, one by one, as they began to dance. Pepe twirled his sister around, her dress swirling as well.  

“I just want them to know that they can count on me to be there,” Joana said. 

Pepe has always been close to his siblings. When Joana was a little girl, she often climbed into Pepe’s crib to steal a hug or two. When Pepe was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer of certain types of nerve tissue and began treatment at St. Jude, Joana was another caregiver. She seemed to always be with him at home, worrying about his well-being.  

“My sister is special to me because she always helps me with stuff, and does stuff for me, and she cares about me,” Pepe said. 

Pepe was just 6 months old when he developed a persistent cough. After several visits to the hospital, a CT scan revealed the presence of a tumor. Pepe was immediately referred to St. Jude.   

Pepe’s family had heard the word cancer before. They had also heard of St. Jude. At the time of Pepe’s diagnosis, his maternal aunt, Heather, was also a patient of St. Jude, where she was receiving treatment for leukemia. 

“It was painful when my grandson Pepe was diagnosed,” said Sonia, Pepe's grandmother. “But we knew how wonderful St. Jude was.” 

The family was counting on St. Jude to provide the crucial care needed for their two loved ones. 

At St. Jude, Pepe's treatment included chemotherapy. He finished treatment in 2016 and returns for annual checkups. 

Pepe doesn’t recall receiving treatment. He remembers fun visits to St. Jude for checkups. There he was given coloring books, toys and always enjoyed eating at Kay Cafe. 

“He doesn’t remember going through cancer, but he was only 1,” said his mom, Tiffany.  

Tiffany had spent months preparing for the quinceañera. Tiffany didn’t have a celebration of her own when she turned 15, but she really wanted to make it special for oldest daughter. 

Her sons were also looking forward to the celebration, she said.  

“Pepe asked questions about it, like if he gets a quinceañera when he’s 15,” Tiffany said with a laugh. 

When Joana asked them to carry the shoes in and dance with her, they were ecstatic. They even practiced the anticipated dance. Pepe said he practiced the twirl and got it down in a few minutes.  

Before the party was scheduled to begin, Tiffany walked around the venue, ensuring tables with white cloths and lavender accents were perfect. She looked over the dessert table that contained various sweets, including candy popular in Mexico. Tiffany decorated the cake with butterflies. She also confirmed that all was ready in the kitchen where caterers were prepping food that included chicken, rice, beef and tortillas. 

Tiffany’s sister Heather and her son were also among the guests who arrived early to help. Heather, who completed treatment at St. Jude and is doing well, said when she was a patient of St. Jude she wondered about her future, so family celebrations and life’s milestones mean that much more to her.  

“Today is a special day for me because I didn’t think I would get chances like this, I didn’t think I would be able to attend my niece’s quinceañera and I didn’t think that I would be able to have children,” she said, adding that she was confident that when Pepe was diagnosed that St. Jude was going to take good care of him. “Everything I’m able to do in this lifetime is such a blessing because of St. Jude.” 

Sonia said she was full of happiness because her granddaughter was celebrating a special birthday and because Pepe and Heather were present enjoying the special day with the rest of the family.  

“When they told me first about Heather and then later about Pepe, and when you hear the word cancer it’s difficult and you think the worst, but seeing both of them together, and that they are well and growing and making their life, I am happy, and thanks to St. Jude I have both my grandson and daughter with me,” Sonia said. 

Daniel and Pepe, who also wore purple bow ties, hauled ice for the cold drinks to the kitchen prior to the party starting. They also opened the venue doors for Joana to make her grand entrance before her mother presented her to the guests.  

Pepe admitted he was a little bit nervous before he took to the dance floor. Though, he said, he was also happy to help for the “big party,” and be an important part of the celebration.

“I’m excited for Jojo dancing, and I’m excited about just having fun,” he said.