Dari's Terminal Cancer: A Family's Struggle

My name is Damaris Gonzalez. I have 4 kiddos. my twin daughters Daniella and Dariella, 14 years old will be 15 at the end of november. My 7 year old daughter Maliyah and my 4 year old son Roman. Family of 6. We found out on 10/01/25 that my daughter Dariella's cancer is now terminal. At this moment in time we are just trying to create as many memories possible and for her to experience the life she has left to the fullest with things she wants to do. Dariella has always been the most sweetest, and kindest Through her journey she has been so strong, brave, always stayed positive, and always has a smile on her face. Always being goofy as well. A smile that lights up the room and a laughter that brings so much joy!

Here's Dariella's cancer story...

In November 2024 is when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma but on 01/03/25 is when we found out her cancer was stage 4 due to the cancer spreading to her lungs and 2 other areas. 01/09/25 is when she had her first chemo session. Between 01/2025 to 03/2025 we faced several challenges such as blood transfusions and platelet transfusions due to her blood count levels would drop but on 03/21/25 was the most heartbreaking moment for me as her mother, I thought I was going to lose my child cause she started to have stroke like symptoms. I rushed her to the ER at the Children's Methodist Hospital and she was in the PICU for a few days, she was stable and doing good while we were there. We ended up finding out she was having a reactions to her chemo called Methotrexate that's caused her to have the stroke like symptoms. They called it Methotrexate Neurotoxcitiy. Thank god she was able to recover. When this occured to Dari I had to take a leave of absence of work due to my mental health, I was already suggesting so much before we had this traumatic scare but once this happened I couldn't take it no more, I had to be there for my daughter full time. Once Dariella was well enough to go home from the PICU the following week on 03/26/25 she had her PET Scan to follow up on the 1st half of her chemo sessions On 03/27/25, Dariella ended up have major surgery on her leg, they removed the cancer but they also removed her right femur, her bone. We stayed in the hospital for a few days so she could recover from her surgery then we were able to go home. After surgery we followed up with her oncologist and her orthopedic oncologist and started her physical therapy. When we went to go see her oncologist we received good news that the 1st half of her chemo session worked and the cancer everywhere was half the size. That news gave us so much hope! After 3 weeks of surgery Dariella started her chemotherapy again. Once again we faced the same challenges, she had to get some blood transfusions due to her blood levels dropping. On 07/28/25 I returned to work but end up missing work or having to leave early for Dariella's appts or any situation that would occur. Dariella finally got to her last Chemo, her last Chemo was 09/04/25. We were so excited that it was her last Chemo but we were sad as well cause we would miss the hospital staff from the Children's Methodist Hospital on the 7th floor oncology unit, they became our 2nd family, the hospital was our 2nd home. On 09/17/25, Dariella had her post chemo PET Scan and other images done but on 10/01/25 is when we received the results and when our hearts shattered! We received the news that her cancer is now terminal due to the cancer spreading more, at this point the chemo didn't work and she didn't receive any chemo between 09/04/25 to current. The doctor told us that due to her cancer is so aggressive there's nothing they can do to save her life, all we can try to do is extend her life and give her the best quality of life. The doctor gave us 3 options that we can do. 1st option was to do chemo but she would be at the hospital 2 weeks at a time for it but she would end up very sick. He mentioned her quality of life wouldn't be great but her body would respond then she would have a few more years of life. 2nd option is oral chemo and she would have a better quality of life, she wouldn't be as sick possibly small side effects to the oral chemo but she would be able to be at home with her family, she would be able to grow out her hair and just enjoy life. The doctor mentioned that once again if oral chemo responds well with her body then she would have a few years of life. The max 3 years! If her body doesn't respond well or we decide to do nothing then she would have weeks or months to live. We have decided to do the oral chemo, so she can have the best quality of life of what she has left but we also want her to enjoy the rest of her life to the fullest! She doesn't want to be stuck in the hospital, sick from the chemo. This decision we made, we made as a family and what Dariella wanted.

My daughter Dariella doesn't want much, she has always been a very simple girl and is happy with anything. We want her to enjoy the life she has left.