Better chances for childhood cancer in Brazil

A long trip of almost 900 kilometers became a short way for a family in search of curing the cancer of its baby girl. Little Luize is 2 years old, and she was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in 2020, when she was only six months old. Living in Içará, in the interior of the State of Santa Catarina, the family has not measured efforts – or distances – to seek a treatment for their daughter. Luize’s mother, Alice, 38, said that she noticed a reflection in the eyes of her daughter, but she thought that it was due to the color of Luize’s eyes. “It did not draw our attention because she has blue eyes. One day, I took her to take a vaccine, and the nurse noticed that Luize did not move her two eyes equally.” In the next week, the family went to Criciúma, a neighbor city, for an appointment with an ophthalmologist. “He examined her and immediately wrote a referral letter to GRAACC’s Hospital,” she said.

At our hospital, Luize and her parents were welcomed by Dr. Luiz Fernando and Dr. Carla Macedo, who confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral retinoblastoma, when cancer is present in both eyes. “I was knocked off my feet. The whole family was devastated. The word “cancer” is quite scaring, but the medical team was wonderful, and we were sure that Luize was in very good hands,” Alice said. And she was, indeed. The medical team acted quickly in order to guarantee the success of the treatment, and an humanized and welcoming assistance. “We have a great affection for the whole GRAACC team. They assist people in a sensible and empathic way. Luize is a very special child: She is the only child of the couple, and the first grandchild of both sides of the family. I am sure that they could feel how much that means to us,” said the mother with emotion.

Luize has already been discharged from hospital after several rounds of chemotherapy, cryotherapy, lasertherapy and other procedures, and she is being monitored through routine tests that take place on a quarterly basis. “For us, GRAACC is cure. Thanks to the Hospital, my daughter has the opportunity to grow, play and have a normal life. She will be the light of our lives for a long time,” Alice celebrates.

Thanks to your donation, we can tell and share many breakthroughs. You are crucial for the treatment of thousands of children like Luize. Thank you very much!

Links:

• https://graacc.org.br/