Childhood Cancer Warrior Spotlight: Irene

In her own words

Before cancer, I was just a normal 16-year-old teenager. I was in high school, a good student with A’s and B’s, and on the varsity tennis team. I was living a normal teenage life and looking forward to my aunt’s 49th birthday party.

A few days before the party, I started feeling sick. I had a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and body pain. I went to the doctor and the hospital several times, but my tests kept coming back negative. I was exhausted and frustrated from being told that everything was fine when I knew something wasn’t right.

At one point, I remember saying, “I don’t care what I have. I just want to get diagnosed. I don’t even care if it’s cancer.”

A few days later, I found out that it was.

On October 3, 2022, at 16 years old, I was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL).

My journey quickly became much more complicated than I ever imagined. I experienced seizures, strokes, brain bleeds, and a rare brain fungus. I had multiple brain and stomach surgeries, including surgery to remove part of my intestine because of an infection. For a while, I had a colostomy bag, which was eventually reversed.

Because of my strokes, I had to relearn things through physical, occupational, and speech therapy. I spent so much time in the hospital that it became my second home. My mom and I even stopped working so she could stay by my side.

Throughout everything, I became a strong patient advocate. My mom only speaks Spanish, so I always made sure an interpreter was brought into the room. I wasn’t afraid to speak up when something didn’t feel right or when I felt my mom wasn’t being treated respectfully. I also learned to trust my instincts and speak up about my own body.

After one of my stomach surgeries, my stomach became extremely swollen, and I knew something wasn’t normal. I told my nurse to page the doctor and surgeon. I even did my own research and asked for another surgical consultation. That surgeon became one of the best surgeons I ever had and came to my bedside every day to check on me.

There were many moments when my doctors weren’t sure what was going to happen. At one point, my family was even told to prepare themselves because they didn’t think I was going to survive.

But I did.

I went on to graduate high school. Texas Children’s Hospital even gave me my own mini graduation surrounded by the nurses and doctors who had been there throughout my journey.

Then, on October 21, 2024, I rang the bell.

After everything I had been through, I was finally able to say that I was a survivor.

My doctors have called me a miracle, and I understand why. But I also know how hard I fought to get here.

Cancer changed my life, but it also taught me to be strong, to speak up, to advocate for myself and my family, and to never stop believing in myself.

I went from being a normal 16-year-old girl playing tennis to becoming a cancer survivor.

I am still here. I am still fighting. And I am proud to call myself a survivor.