Donation protected
Have you ever met a child superhero? Do you know what they look like? Well let me introduce you all to one of Indio’s superheroes. Christopher Balbuena Ambrocio is a 17 year old high school senior who not only has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for his academic well-being but also has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
Being diagnosed with ALL means that the cancer cells in Chris’ body are affecting his blood, bone marrow, and thus targets the development of his white blood cells. Although ALL is a highly common cancer within children, the cancer cells form out of developed errors within the body that cause enlarged lymph nodes, constant bruising, sky rocketing fevers that end in seizures, pain across all parts of the body, and most common symptom of frequent infections that can lead to infected fungus.
December 2016, Chris’ 8th grade year at Thomas Jefferson Middle School was the beginning of a journey no one expected. Before going into winter break that school year, his teachers would call home and tell mom, Eulalia Pantoja, that Chris had once again fallen asleep in class and would state he was really tired. Unsure if it was puberty that was causing Chris to be tired all the time, the family decided to take a family vacation during winter break. On Christmas Day, the family went on a camping trip. During the day Chris and his father went riding on a dirt bike to enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, the ride did not end well and they suffered a great accident. His father, Rodrigo Pantoja, suffered a hand injury but was more concerned with Chris, since he was unresponsive. Getting the necessary medical attention right away resulted in Chris being transported via helicopter to the nearest hospital in Arizona at the time. Once he reached medical attention doctors informed parents that Chris had an infected blister that needed to be treated right away and was suffering from internal bleeding. After the successful operations that resulted in Chris having a walking limp from his left foot doctors told parents that they found something else wrong with Chris. At 2 am on December 26th 2016, the family was informed that Chris had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and must be transported immediately to his closest children’s hospital to start chemotherapy and radiation at once in order to combat the cancer in time.
Chris underwent ongoing chemotherapy and radiation sessions for several months. Until the beginning of his 9th grade year at Indio High School, Chris officially declared on remission. Just when the family was about to reach the 3 year mark of being on remission in March 2020, Chris grew an infection in his hand. An infection that to most means nothing but a scab and scar, was once the beginning of their current journey. The infection grew and was eventually treated. However, as protocol requires Chris had another MRI & CT Scan in July 2020 to rule out the possibility of having the cancer come back. Unfortunately this time it was not just leukemia, the cancer had officially infected his spinal cord. Going into the end of his junior year, Chris was about to begin his second battle against two cancers. As he fought through the never ending chemotherapies and radiations, Chris needed more than just pharmaceutical treatments, he needed a bone marrow transplant. On Friday, November 20, 2020, Chris received a beautiful gift of a bone marrow transplant from his younger brother, David a 14 year old 8th grade student at Thomas Jefferson MS. The transplant was a success and his body was accepting it, things were finally turning around. Then his mouth began to get blisters, the blisters became infected without anyone realizing it was a fungus. Since the blisters were in the mouth anything he consumed was then spreading the fungus to the rest of his body until it reached the brain. Bringing us to the current situation, Chris’ fungus has targeted the brain and in order to combat the scarring the fungus is doing to the brain the doctors were left no other option than to put Chris into an induced coma on Dec. 13 2020, while they treat the fungus. Doctors have repeatedly stated that the treatment to fight the fungus is so strong that if he was not in an induced coma Chris would die of the pain. As all medical treatments combat the illness they also combat the good. It is for this that the scheduled removal of the induced coma will be until the end of year. It is unknown what the scarring of the brain tissues will cause on Chris and what limitations may come up from the infected areas the fungus was able to reach. It is the unknown of what is to come that brings us here today to tell you Chris’ story and what he wanted others to know.
Even when undergoing chemotherapy and radiation sessions Chris was diligent to attend his virtual classes. While teachers may only see a black screen with his name across, on the other end of the screen is a high school senior hospitalized at Loma Linda Hospital getting a new treatment injected into him and a cocktail of pills brought to him as part of his daily routine. As nurses adjust his bed and pillows for him to sit up as much as possible, Chris types into his classroom chat and participates in the discussion going on. On days when he couldn’t stay up from the aftermath of a treatment Chris would email his teachers or tell his mom to text Ms. Gautier, that today he just couldn’t make it to class. Proving to everyone including himself that sometimes heroes don’t need capes to be brave and push forward. Anyone can give up. It’s the easiest thing to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength. The strength of a real superhero. Chris has demonstrated to everyone day after day, that even when his crayon may be broken, broken crayons still color.
As the family awaits for the induced coma to come to an end, a 14 year old boy touches the scar on his back and thinks when will Chris be home. A 9 year old 4th grader, thinks when will her older brother be home to take charge of the remote control like old times. A 6 yr old first grader and 2 year old ask their dad and older siblings where is Chris and when can they see him and why is he not there with them and why is mom always with him. A family that has for 4 years battled cancer together is praying for a miracle to make sure Chris’ wishes come true of having his story be known and him becoming a Rajah Alumni.
If you are interested in reading and knowing Chris’ entire story feel free to follow this link for his story in both English and Spanish: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X3NMJzy7rftMcbbHNPXE0jt14dO9iGSW3onKMIlxQMg/copy?usp=sharing
This Go Fund Me Account is dedicated to not only bring awareness to Chris’ story as he would want it to be done but to assist a humble family who does not know what will come after an induced coma that is fighting brain fungus from consuming a 17 year old high school student.
We would like this time to thank those who have already assisted the family in different measures.
Thank you to Indio City Police Department for not only bringing the holiday spirit to the family but assisting in the process of getting the family into the Ronald McDonald house for all of them to be together.
Thank you to the Ronald McDonald house and board for allowing the family to be united.
Thank you to every single person at Loma Linda Hospital for your attentive care and work ethic in saving Chris’ life and giving him the best quality of life during these past treatments.
Thank you to both Thomas Jefferson Middle School and Dr. Carreon Elementary School for the ongoing support towards the family but especially for caring and looking out for David, Emily and Rodrigo Jr.
Thank you to Indio High School Staff for the ongoing support towards the family but especially for caring and looking out for Chris.
Thank you to Principal Lawson getting Chris a graduation cap, gown, diploma and for contacting Principals and school’s counselors.
Thank you to the Indio High School Special Education Department for your generous support.
Thank you to Ms. Gautier for being the liaison between the family and IHS and for becoming an adopted family member with the family.
Thank you to Mr. Leonel from DSUSD Transportation for always being so kind to Chris and for helping motivate him to keep going.
Thank you to Dr. De Loera for writing Christopher’s story. Thank you so much Dr. De Loera for making Chris’ wishes come true. His story will become known.
Being diagnosed with ALL means that the cancer cells in Chris’ body are affecting his blood, bone marrow, and thus targets the development of his white blood cells. Although ALL is a highly common cancer within children, the cancer cells form out of developed errors within the body that cause enlarged lymph nodes, constant bruising, sky rocketing fevers that end in seizures, pain across all parts of the body, and most common symptom of frequent infections that can lead to infected fungus.
December 2016, Chris’ 8th grade year at Thomas Jefferson Middle School was the beginning of a journey no one expected. Before going into winter break that school year, his teachers would call home and tell mom, Eulalia Pantoja, that Chris had once again fallen asleep in class and would state he was really tired. Unsure if it was puberty that was causing Chris to be tired all the time, the family decided to take a family vacation during winter break. On Christmas Day, the family went on a camping trip. During the day Chris and his father went riding on a dirt bike to enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, the ride did not end well and they suffered a great accident. His father, Rodrigo Pantoja, suffered a hand injury but was more concerned with Chris, since he was unresponsive. Getting the necessary medical attention right away resulted in Chris being transported via helicopter to the nearest hospital in Arizona at the time. Once he reached medical attention doctors informed parents that Chris had an infected blister that needed to be treated right away and was suffering from internal bleeding. After the successful operations that resulted in Chris having a walking limp from his left foot doctors told parents that they found something else wrong with Chris. At 2 am on December 26th 2016, the family was informed that Chris had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and must be transported immediately to his closest children’s hospital to start chemotherapy and radiation at once in order to combat the cancer in time.
Chris underwent ongoing chemotherapy and radiation sessions for several months. Until the beginning of his 9th grade year at Indio High School, Chris officially declared on remission. Just when the family was about to reach the 3 year mark of being on remission in March 2020, Chris grew an infection in his hand. An infection that to most means nothing but a scab and scar, was once the beginning of their current journey. The infection grew and was eventually treated. However, as protocol requires Chris had another MRI & CT Scan in July 2020 to rule out the possibility of having the cancer come back. Unfortunately this time it was not just leukemia, the cancer had officially infected his spinal cord. Going into the end of his junior year, Chris was about to begin his second battle against two cancers. As he fought through the never ending chemotherapies and radiations, Chris needed more than just pharmaceutical treatments, he needed a bone marrow transplant. On Friday, November 20, 2020, Chris received a beautiful gift of a bone marrow transplant from his younger brother, David a 14 year old 8th grade student at Thomas Jefferson MS. The transplant was a success and his body was accepting it, things were finally turning around. Then his mouth began to get blisters, the blisters became infected without anyone realizing it was a fungus. Since the blisters were in the mouth anything he consumed was then spreading the fungus to the rest of his body until it reached the brain. Bringing us to the current situation, Chris’ fungus has targeted the brain and in order to combat the scarring the fungus is doing to the brain the doctors were left no other option than to put Chris into an induced coma on Dec. 13 2020, while they treat the fungus. Doctors have repeatedly stated that the treatment to fight the fungus is so strong that if he was not in an induced coma Chris would die of the pain. As all medical treatments combat the illness they also combat the good. It is for this that the scheduled removal of the induced coma will be until the end of year. It is unknown what the scarring of the brain tissues will cause on Chris and what limitations may come up from the infected areas the fungus was able to reach. It is the unknown of what is to come that brings us here today to tell you Chris’ story and what he wanted others to know.
Even when undergoing chemotherapy and radiation sessions Chris was diligent to attend his virtual classes. While teachers may only see a black screen with his name across, on the other end of the screen is a high school senior hospitalized at Loma Linda Hospital getting a new treatment injected into him and a cocktail of pills brought to him as part of his daily routine. As nurses adjust his bed and pillows for him to sit up as much as possible, Chris types into his classroom chat and participates in the discussion going on. On days when he couldn’t stay up from the aftermath of a treatment Chris would email his teachers or tell his mom to text Ms. Gautier, that today he just couldn’t make it to class. Proving to everyone including himself that sometimes heroes don’t need capes to be brave and push forward. Anyone can give up. It’s the easiest thing to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength. The strength of a real superhero. Chris has demonstrated to everyone day after day, that even when his crayon may be broken, broken crayons still color.
As the family awaits for the induced coma to come to an end, a 14 year old boy touches the scar on his back and thinks when will Chris be home. A 9 year old 4th grader, thinks when will her older brother be home to take charge of the remote control like old times. A 6 yr old first grader and 2 year old ask their dad and older siblings where is Chris and when can they see him and why is he not there with them and why is mom always with him. A family that has for 4 years battled cancer together is praying for a miracle to make sure Chris’ wishes come true of having his story be known and him becoming a Rajah Alumni.
If you are interested in reading and knowing Chris’ entire story feel free to follow this link for his story in both English and Spanish: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X3NMJzy7rftMcbbHNPXE0jt14dO9iGSW3onKMIlxQMg/copy?usp=sharing
This Go Fund Me Account is dedicated to not only bring awareness to Chris’ story as he would want it to be done but to assist a humble family who does not know what will come after an induced coma that is fighting brain fungus from consuming a 17 year old high school student.
We would like this time to thank those who have already assisted the family in different measures.
Thank you to Indio City Police Department for not only bringing the holiday spirit to the family but assisting in the process of getting the family into the Ronald McDonald house for all of them to be together.
Thank you to the Ronald McDonald house and board for allowing the family to be united.
Thank you to every single person at Loma Linda Hospital for your attentive care and work ethic in saving Chris’ life and giving him the best quality of life during these past treatments.
Thank you to both Thomas Jefferson Middle School and Dr. Carreon Elementary School for the ongoing support towards the family but especially for caring and looking out for David, Emily and Rodrigo Jr.
Thank you to Indio High School Staff for the ongoing support towards the family but especially for caring and looking out for Chris.
Thank you to Principal Lawson getting Chris a graduation cap, gown, diploma and for contacting Principals and school’s counselors.
Thank you to the Indio High School Special Education Department for your generous support.
Thank you to Ms. Gautier for being the liaison between the family and IHS and for becoming an adopted family member with the family.
Thank you to Mr. Leonel from DSUSD Transportation for always being so kind to Chris and for helping motivate him to keep going.
Thank you to Dr. De Loera for writing Christopher’s story. Thank you so much Dr. De Loera for making Chris’ wishes come true. His story will become known.
Organizer and beneficiary
Yolanda De Loera
Organizer
Indio, CA
Eulalia Pantoja
Beneficiary