Valentina’s resolve and joy

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When María Antonieta was four months pregnant with her youngest child, Gretel Valentina, she was told that her daughter would likely face lifelong disabilities. She and her husband, Javier, braced themselves for the unknown.   

At birth, their daughter, who is affectionately called by her second name, Valentina, was diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), an injury to the white brain tissue near the ventricles. She was also diagnosed with microcephaly, a condition in which a baby's head is smaller than expected. 

Doctors told Valentina’s parents that they didn’t know if she was ever going to be able to walk or talk. The couple was determined to provide the best life possible for their baby.

At 4 years old, Valentina was learning to take steps with help, and her parents were hopeful that she would soon take steps on her own. However, her parents’ resolve was tested further when Valentina began to experience fatigue and reluctance to walk. During physical therapy sessions, her mom could often count on Valentina, who always seemed to have energy, to practice her steps for up to 40 minutes at a time. Now Valentina could only manage a few minutes of walking practice before becoming tired and indicating she didn’t want to continue. 

Valentina started to show symptoms of an upper respiratory infection days before a planned family vacation to Cancun.

During their trip, Valentina had cold symptoms, including a stuffy nose, and later bruises on her skin.  The family visited the doctor in Mexico, and when they returned home to Tennessee, Valentina’s parents took her to the local children’s hospital, where tests revealed that Valentina had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), cancer of the blood and bone marrow. All of this happened within a couple weeks of Valentina beginning to show symptoms.  

The new diagnosis added a whole new layer of concern for the family. María Antonieta couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“I still had faith that they were wrong,” she recalled.  

Valentina is non-verbal and her mother was concerned about how she would communicate if she felt unwell during treatment. 

“It was difficult, and I thought even more so because of everything she has, and now she must deal with cancer. But I knew she was very strong, and I had faith and hope that she was going to survive,” María Antonieta said. 

Following her diagnosis, Valentina was immediately transferred to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

María Antonieta had lived in Tennessee for 20 years and had heard of St. Jude and its reputation for caring for children with cancer. St. Jude is one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers. Its mission is to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. 

“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," she said.

The day after she arrived at St. Jude, Valentina underwent a procedure to place a port in her chest, and soon after she started her first round of chemotherapy. 

In their moments of deep anxiety, her parents found solace in their faith, turning to prayer for strength and guidance.

“I told my husband, ‘God will help us from above, but here on Earth, we can’t be in a better place other than St. Jude,’” she said. “If I was in Mexico, or any other place, or in another place within the United States, I would have done anything to be here at St. Jude. I knew there was no better place than St. Jude.”  

After several rounds of chemotherapy, Valentina underwent a bone marrow transplant in February 2022, with her father serving as her donor.  For some patients with AML, bone marrow transplantation is used as part of the treatment. After using high-dose chemotherapy to destroy the cancerous cells, the bone marrow transplant is meant to replace abnormal blood cells with healthy cells, which could potentially cure the disease. In situations with a high risk of recurrence of disease, this treatment offers a potential cure for the disease.

Valentina met the criteria to undergo a haplo-identical transplant, which tested a type of hematopoietic (blood-making) cell transplant for patients with high-risk cancers. St. Jude is a leader in new methods of transplanting blood cells.  

“I was overjoyed to play my part,” Javier said. “Valentina means everything to me: She embodies love, gratitude, bravery and immense strength. Despite facing so much uncertainty, her smile never fades… she has taught us a lot,” he added. 

Javier recalled that when Valentina needed her spirits lifted during treatment, he would play with her and sing “Baby Shark,” her favorite song. 

More than two years after completing chemotherapy treatment, Valentina is doing well, going to therapy and traveling with her parents, most recently to Mexico. Valentina, now 7, continues to show her strength and joy even when facing hurdles.  

María Antonieta can’t say enough about St. Jude and all they provided not only for Valentina, but the rest of the family. When Naomi, her oldest daughter, had a birthday while Valentina was in treatment, a nurse organized an impromptu birthday party for her with balloons, dessert and confetti.  

“My oldest daughter felt so happy, and she kept telling people that St. Jude celebrated her,” María Antonieta said. 

At home, Javier cherishes every moment by Valentina’s side. They love taking walks to the park. Her parents, along with Naomi, are always nearby to help her walk a few steps or to push her wheelchair so Valentina can join them on family outings.  

“I’ve learned that it’s the little everyday things that make a difference,” Javier said, his voice breaking with emotion. “Receiving a kiss when I come home or seeing her wave at me with her little hand, nodding her head, is so precious that it has become my driving force to move forward.”