Help Little Giovana on her fight against Cancer

This is Giovana Zalez, daughter of Rudy Zalez and Olivia Dasso. Her cancer  treatment is taking a toll financially and emotionally on the family. 

Update: Options to donate Venmo @rudolph-zalez, PayPal [email redacted] or Facebook: 
www.facebook.com/donate/295727995182742/


From Giovana's words: My name is Giovana Zalez. I am 4 years old.  I like taking pictures and dressing up as a princess.  I enjoy going to the playground and swimming. My dream is to be healthy and be able to play with my friend Juliana one day. 


From Rudy Zalez words (Dad):


In December 2016,  found an unusual mass on our 5 month old daughter, Giovana, which was soon diagnosed as a very rare pediatric cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma. 


This type of cancer is so rare (only 350 cases yearly in the country), Giovana underwent surgery at Sloan Kettering in New York to remove the large tumor, and started her cancer fight at Children’s Hospital Orange County (CHOC) over the 2016 holidays. Her road to recovery stretched out over 6 months with weekly chemo treatments, hospitalization every three weeks, and radiation back in NY to prevent the tumor from returning. The treatment went as smoothly as it could have and was successful! Giovana was declared cancer-free in June 2017 and we were all so overjoyed!


However that joy, however, was short-lived.


A new tumor in the same area in September 2017 and immediately took Giovana to CHOC where the oncologists feared the worst – the cancer had returned. 


Since then Giovana has endured over 20 surgeries, chemo. She knows very little of what it means to be a kid and play with friends. Yet she is always smiling and looking forward to her time in the park, whenever is possible. 


In sharing the heartbreaking news to close friends and family, “Right now we are devastated, tired is an understatement. Our cups are empty. The only thing I cling to is to know that regardless of how I feel, I know that the Lord gives rest to the weary…right now we are at a complete loss and we do not understand.”


The new treatment plan is for Giovana to endure an experimental chemo that will target the specific mutations.  She will have have a  new scan December 30th to determine whether or not it's working. This will be done @ Cleveland Clinic, Ohio. 


All of this has put a strain on the family emotionally and financially. 


We are already making every sacrifice possible to ensure she receives the best medical care and quality of life in the hopes that she will once again be declared cancer-free. 


However the outcome, we will never stop fighting for our little angel. 


We're just reaching out to help our friend Rudy with any expenses and to keep his family in prayer.  Please give what you can....and more importantly, pray for little Giovana. Thank you for your generosity


From Esteban Conde (lunching the fundraiser campaign). I ve known Rudy for many years, and had share over the phone the pain and strength of this family and what they had endured. This little Angels has endured over 20 surgeries and still fights for her life with a smile on her face. I had shared prayers, tears and pain over her condition and what my friend Rudy and her family are going through. He has been an example of strength and he truly has shown me what it means to be a man who loves and trusts God. I am asking not only to help with has been the most devastating financial burden but with prayers. We truly believe in them. Thank you....