Help our Sebas beat a rare cancer!

“Besos (kisses) for Sebas”: We are fighting for his life and we need your help!

In October 2021, our beautiful, two-year-old son Sebastián was diagnosed with Myoepithelial Carcinoma (MEC), which metastasized to both his lungs. MEC is an extraordinarily rare and aggressive cancer with a high rate of recurrence and, when metastatic, a low rate of survival.

We have always called Sebastián our miracle baby. It took us three years to get pregnant with our first child, Santiago. Six months after he was born, without even trying, we got pregnant with Sebastián.

Since he was a baby, Sebas (pronounced “SEH-bas,” our nickname for him) has lived his life with fearless determination. His big bright smile is contagious, and his passionate spirit is always looking for adventure.

In August of 2021, we discovered a lump on the palm of Sebas' hand, which came out of nowhere. Doctors ordered an ultrasound that showed a solid mass. Two weeks later, Sebas underwent surgery to remove the tumor. After four excruciatingly long weeks, we received the devastating news that Sebas had cancer. In an instant, our lives were turned upside down.

How you can help

As we watch Sebas fighting every day for his life, we are beside him fighting as well. Our miracle baby needs a miracle, and we are on a mission to find a cure.

To give him the best chance, our family has temporarily uprooted from Albuquerque, NM to the Bay Area, to live near Stanford Children’s Hospital, where Sebas is being treated by a world-class team and receiving intensive chemotherapy. Naomi had to quit her new teaching job to take care of Sebas and his 4-year-old brother, Santiago. Michael is only recently back to work part-time after a leave of absence.

Cancer may take our baby. That is the reality we’re forced to wake up to every day. We’re in a race against time and we know it. Because MEC is so rare, there is no cure and no proven treatments currently exist. We are looking to change that.

In late 2021, we partnered with the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute (cc-TDI) to establish the first Myoepithelial Carcinoma (MEC) research program, in honor of Sebas. This study aims to advance our knowledge of MEC, explore and test treatment options, and work to develop a cure.

We are asking you to help Sebas and our family during this devastating time. Our “Besos for Sebas” campaign (“besos” means “kisses” in Spanish) needs your help to fund this critical research and to help cover medical and travel expenses for Sebas’ treatment.

With love and deep appreciation,

Naomi & Michael

To read more about Sebas’ story, or to make a tax-deductible contribution to our newly formed nonprofit organization, please visit cureMEC.