Childhood Cancer Warrior Spotlight: Abril
Abril’s journey is one of strength, faith, unwavering courage and true resilience, a remarkable young role model.
On September 6, after days of feeling unwell, constant infections, leg pain, and fevers, lab results confirmed the unexpected. Abril was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) with approximately 96% leukemic blasts present in her bone marrow. Since then, we travel 139 miles to Covenant Children’s Hospital for her treatment. She has endured countless hospital visits as we adjusted to a new reality—one where even a simple fever is no longer ‘’just a fever”, requiring immediate trips to the emergency room.
Despite it all, Abril has remained the same joyful child with a contagious smile and a kind heart, qualities that cancer could not take away. From the very beginning, she demonstrated remarkable maturity, strength, confidence, and resilience. Far beyond what anyone would expect from a 7-year-old.
Her journey has not been easy. In November 2023, after just a few weeks of treatment, Abril developed an allergy to PEG, a key medication used in leukemia treatment. As a result, she endured an alternative process that required eight injections in her legs for each treatment cycle. In total, she received 32 painful shots. In March 2024, due to the effects of Doxorubicin—often referred to as “the red devil”—Abril had to face the emotional challenge of losing her hair. Even then, she stayed strong. On her hardest days, she held onto her faith, often saying, “I know I will be OK because God is with me.”
Abril began maintenance treatment in July 2024 and returned to school in August. Adjusting to her “new normal” brought new challenges. She was not always able to participate in activities like her classmates due to fatigue and reduced strength from chemotherapy. She also faced unkind comments and curious looks from other children because of her short hair. Yet none of this stopped her. Abril carried herself with confidence, knowing she is strong, valued, and deeply loved—a true warrior.
In December 2025, she completed her final course of oral chemotherapy, a milestone we celebrated as a family. However, her journey was not over. A bone marrow biopsy in January revealed residual cancer cells, requiring an additional round of treatment with blinatumomab. This phase included two 28-day continuous infusions, one month of oral chemotherapy, a temporary move to Lubbock, and homeschooling. Once again, her response was filled with faith: “It’s okay, Mom. I know God has a plan and He is taking care of me.” While there were moments of sadness, and tears of fear and frustration, she continued to face everything with courage and trust in God.
By the grace of God, on March 27, her biopsy showed zero cancer cells. While she still has treatment ahead, Abril is determined to finish strong—with a smile on her face and faith in her heart.
Thank you for letting us share her story.
