An update in "Help Leonor to fight brain cancer". There is no cure for brain cancer. The standard of care is to offer watchful waiting until it's visible on MRI that the tumor is getting even more bigger or symptoms worsen. When the tumor progresses, there are 3 options. Operation- not possible in Leonor's case because of the tumor location and type of tumor. 2. Radiotherapy- not possible because of tumor size(too big an area for irradiation). 3. Chemotherapy with high neurotoxicity that possibly could kill tumor cells, but only actively dividing tumor cells, and after some time, the tumor comes back in a higher grade and is resistant to treatment. The only chance that Leonor has to stop and reverse the disease is Immunotherapy, which is not included in the standard of healthcare in any country yet. We contacted a private clinic in Germany where Leonor can receive the treatment. They have been doing research and working with immunotherapies for over 20 years. This clinic is led by one of the world's best pediatric oncologists specialist in brain tumors. He responded personally to my email. The estimated price is about 40,000€. Next week we will receive an exact price from the clinic. Here in Benalmadena, there is a local charity organisation called EL VUELO DE LAS LIBÉLULAS. They are committed to helping us with fundraising and organising an event to collect funds for treatment. If you don’t have the possibility to help us with donations, you may be able to help them with the event. Thank you so much for your support during this difficult time.
link to EL VUELO DE LAS LIBÉLULAS
My daughter, Leonor, is a brave and lively 13-year-old who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in February 2025. Right now, Leonor is facing not only the tough neurological challenges from the tumor but also ongoing health issues that have changed her life so much.
We have been living in Málaga, Spain, since 2017. It’s where Leonor thrived as a happy and healthy child, having even beaten asthma in her early years. But everything changed in June 2024 when she got really sick with major pneumonia. Since that time, she hasn’t been able to fully recover. Starting in October 2024, she began experiencing troubling neurological symptoms. Then, from December 2024, she faced repeated infections, which led to another serious case of pneumonia in February—just as we found out about the tumor.
Sadly, our experience with the public health system has been very disheartening. Leonor was stuck on a long waiting list for a biopsy, even as the tumor grows and she suffers from seizures. Due to this situation, we decided to borrow money to see a private neurosurgeon to perform the biopsy. After a lot of worrying and waiting, the biopsy confirmed our fears: she has an astrocytoma grade 2, which is a slow-growing but dangerous infiltrating brain tumor that becomes more aggressive over time.
In Spain and Norway, the standard treatments include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, in Leonor’s case, surgery isn’t a viable option because of where the tumor is located and what type it is. While these treatments might slow the tumor’s growth for a few years, they come with harsh side effects and the risk of developing another type of cancer or suffering long-term neurological damage. Thankfully, there are some hopeful alternatives like targeted drug therapies, immunotherapies, and vaccine trials available in different cities in Spain and abroad, which could give her a better chance at getting better.
These advanced treatments require not just traveling and finding a place to stay, but also sometimes paying for the therapies upfront. Our financial burden is heavy; I have lost most of my income while dedicated to caring for Leonor, and her father is already struggling with debt from covering urgent medical costs, including the biopsy that the public health system could not rush.
We have reached a desperate point where we cannot fight this battle alone anymore.
This is just the beginning of a long and difficult journey to save Leonor’s life, and we truly need your help. Every little bit counts and can make a real difference by giving Leonor the vital treatments she needs, giving her a chance for a brighter, healthier future.
Please join us in this fight for her life. Your kindness and generosity can bring hope and healing to Leonor’s journey. Thank you so much for your support.
Organizer
