Help Natalia Beat Childhood Leukemia

On May 25, 2022, our daughter Natalia was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer more common in young children. Crazy how your life can change in a matter of hours. We were living a parents worse nightmare, devastated, confused, broken, helpless. Questioning why us, why our baby girl, who just a few days prior was living her normal, happy life. Prior to her diagnosis, Natalia was a vibrant, energetic 4 year old who loved going to school, play with her doll house, spend quality time with her baby brother, and hug and kiss mommy and daddy.

A week before her diagnosis, Natalia experienced a mild fever, which we monitored and kept her home from school. That weekend, Natalia continued to show cold-like symptoms (sneezing, chills, and running nose) but no more fever. Sunday morning we noticed a bit of loss of appetite on her, and throughout the day she seemed tired and just wanted to lay down. Later Sunday evening we noticed Natalia looking pale from her face, which is something we had never seen on her when she would come up with a cold. As parents, we became concerned and worried. We knew something wasn't right. We decided to keep her home from school the next day, Monday 05/23/2022 and take her in to see her pediatrician. The moment her pediatrician walked into the room she also noticed Natalia looking pale and asked for her hemoglobin to be checked there at the office. There, was when Natalia's hemoglobin came back with a really low number. Natalia's pediatrician seemed concerned as this number wasn't normal and sent us to the ER right away for further testing.

At the hospital Natalia went through more lab work which came back with her white blood count really low, her red blood counts really low, hemoglobin low, and platelets low as well. This was when our whole world came down, the pediatric doctor on the floor told us that they suspect Natalia had Leukemia. Because of her low counts, Natalia had to get blood transfusion and platelets transfusion right away. Natalia was admitted right away and was scheduled for two procedures the next morning. Tuesday morning Natalia went through 2 procedures: a lumbar puncture, and a bone marrow biopsy. This would give us confirmation if indeed she did have Leukemia, and what type of Leukemia it was. Wednesday 05/25/2022 we received confirmation that our baby girl had Leukemia. Natalia was diagnosed with B-Cell ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). She began treatments that same week- treatments that will last 2.5 years.

During this time, Natalia will undergo numerous spinal taps (sometimes weekly), and bone marrow samples. She will be taking a combination of steroids and chemotherapy (some which she already took during the first month of treatment), all of which will help clear her of the cancer in her body but at the same time make it very difficult for her to be the same kid she was. She will also need more blood transfusions throughout her treatment. She will feel tired most of the time. She will be nauseated and irritable . Due to her being immunocompromised, she had to be taken out of her preschool class and has to be strictly limited to her interactions with other kids as her condition puts her at a very high risk of infection. A simple cold can set her back in the hospital for days or even weeks.

We have to be very cautious on how we conduct our day-to-days. We will have to sacrifice family functions, holidays, gatherings, and vacations.

Leukemia treatment is $100,000+.

Insurance is incredibly helpful, but it only covers so much. Natalia will have several clinic visits throughout the week, as well as hospital visits throughout the week for the next 2.5 years. Physical therapy will also be needed as the treatment affects her legs and her way of walking. Expenses pile up, specially with only one salary coming in. I, Ivy, was dedicating myself as a SAHM to care for both children, but now I will also be Natalia's caretaker 24/7 while dad (Saul) goes to work.

Now that we have completed the first month of treatment and saw a glimpse of our new life, we see ourselves in need to reach out to you, our friends and family to help us help our baby girl Natalia fight this scary disease. No amount is too small. All funds will go directly to the care and well being of Natalia.

We know that Natalia is loved by many. Thank you to all of our family and friends who have already reached out to us. Please continue to keep Natalia and our family in your prayers. Help us reach our goal by sharing our story/fundraiser.

-The Ortega Family-

(Saul, Ivy, Natalia, Elias)