Hi friends, my name is Grace Moreno, the youth pastor to this very special girl right here, Bernardynn Guerrero.

Please read her story written by her mom Ana Guerrero:

Bernardynn has always been a healthy girl. Always so kind and loving to all she came across, especially children! She loves to participate at our church as a children’s skit actor and camp leadership team. Any time she is able to she does it with joy!

As a young lady and knowing that we have issues as we go into adult hood she always complain about her cycle and having cramps! Which as a woman I know as well. I always told her that was normal, but her cramps sometimes were worse than others but a pain med later she was better. She did have some issues with constipation when she was younger but that had over 7 years ago.

Till the day the school called and said that she was having abdominal pain and fever. I had taken her home and gave her medication and she was fine, a nap later and she was doing good. The next day she stayed home since she needed to be 24 hr fever free. Then the following day she woke and was in pain again not having her cycle at this time I was concerned her constipation was giving her issues. So we ruled that out after a while and I decided to go to the hospital. Upon arrival Dr was thinking it was appendicitis and wanted her to get an Ultra sound done to see. The description was a mass on her left ovary. (11cm) they referred us out since we had gone to urgent care and she was a minor they wanted us at Children’s hospital. Not sure if that was the right thing to do, since I work with gynaecologists Dr. I asked them. A transfer later we were at UT hospital for surgery. Where her mass was removed as well as her left ovary. All went well and she was in some pain due to surgery but she was good after recovery!

Week later pathology report was back and Dr called me back to tell me what was going on with my baby girl. Her now 11cm mass was now a germ cell tumor with carcinoma that was uncommon for her age! I was in shock and tears and hurting for my baby. Knowing what all that meant since my I have lived through this whole thing before with my mom and with her dad’s father. I was praying and praying and hoping that this was not so! As a Christian I knew what I had to do! I went to my church family and right away praying and praying began from all of us!

2nd pathology report comes and it was not good but it was a cancer that was not as bad as the first! Although all cancer is not good we had better results than the first! God answered our prayers. Although it’s been a hard fight because it’s not easy.

We finally made it to children’s hospital in Dallas and started her treatments right away. Being away from home has gotten harder not being able to go to school, loosing her routine of not even being able to go to church the way we would has been hard.

Trying to get health insurance has been very difficult and stressful since she didn’t qualify for Medicaid! We been appealing since I have only been working partime. Since leaving her alone after treatment is not an option because of any cough or fever could be a concern and hospitalization. (Which also my job has also been so patient with me.) truly a blessing. As she is on her third treatment and praying that this is the final one. the bills have been building up. It’s been hard. I know I haven’t seen the end of all these bills. But the ones that have come, I have faith in God and knowing that he will make a way. I appreciate all the prayers and love we have gotten through these hard times.

God bless you all. I also hope this educates everyone as it has taught me to not think any constant pain is not normal.