Juanita's story began about a year ago. She just turned 4 when her mother noticed 'a hard spot' on the child's stomach.
Juanita's mother, Claudia, described that day. "I gave her a bath and noticed that her stomach seemed to have a hard spot. My husband and I felt her stomach again and we felt our little son's stomach. There was definitely something wrong."
The family took their child to several doctors and their conclusion was that a tumor was on the child's liver. The family works on a ranch and do not have health insurance. Someone told them about Paper Houses Across the Border and they contacted us.
Elias and I drove to the little town on the outskirts of Acuña, where the family live. We met the family and assured them that we would help. The first step was to send the family by bus to Monterrey, where there are hospitals that provide treatment for cancer.
The doctors in Monterrey confirmed the situation. There was a large tumor on the child's liver. Because of its location, surgery would be an absolute last resort. A regain of Chemotherapy was the best course of action.
Every two weeks, Juanita and her family made the 6-hour bus trip to Monterrey where chemotherapy, radiation therapy and endless tests awaited Juanita. Often she became ill from the treatments and sometimes she became so ill that her parents rushed her back to the Ejeza Hospital, in nearby Acuña for help.
Juanita's family organized fundraiser's, sought help from friends and family and did all they could do to help their child. They knew that without the help of generous Americans, their child would die - but they continued to work very hard to raise money on their own. They also sent letters of thanks that were so filled with emotion that tears practically shed from the pages. "We could not even afford the bus trips to Monterrey. Our little girl would be gone without the help of these Americans who do not even know us or know our little girl."
Juanita turned 5 in July. The news from the hospital was not good. The tumor was no longer responding to the treatments and remained dangerously large. The doctors in Monterrey said that surgery was the little girl's only chance for survival. However, because of the tumor's size and locations, the doctors were unwilling to attempt the surgery. They recommended that the child be taken to Mexico City where a team of expert surgeons might be willing to attempt the operation.
None of the doctors in Monterrey sounded very hopeful. Juanita's family found another organization that would fly them to Monterrey. (The family also hosted fundraiser's during the year and did all they could do to help their child so as not to take advantage of the 'generous Americans' helping their child). They arrived in Mexico City on August 18th.
The doctors in Mexico City reviewed the reports and tests from Monterrey, examined Juanita and agreed that surgery was the only option that offered any chance for the little girl's survival. Juanita was admitted to the hospital and Paper Houses guaranteed payment. The parents were informed that because of the complexity of the surgery, they must have 12 blood-donors available. This was not something any of us anticipated.
While Juanita lay in her hospital room, her parents walked the streets, telephoned other hospitals, local charities and churches in search of blood donors. Day after day they searched and finally, on Tuesday night they had their twelve donors.
Today, (Aug 25th)Juanita is in surgery. The doctors are experienced in this particular type of surgery and are hopeful. Juanita's parents are in tears and they wait and hope and pray.
The media will not report on this non-story. After all, there is no connection to the cartels. This is just a little family in Mexico that do not matter to most people. The news may flash a story in shocking detail about a drug cartel murder today. There may be a story about violence and corruption, but there is no room in the media for this little girl's story. Visit NEWS for updates about Juanita.