Update for Saturday May 9th:

Gio was able to have his breathing tube removed this morning, he could get up, move around, and take a drink of water. It was a great step in his progress! He did have a drop in his heart rate, causing them to run another MRI, they didn't find anything serious and adjusted medication that then corrected the heart rate issue. While it's been a wonderful day of progress, it's also been a day filled with tests, medications, and explanations; his body has been through a lot. They will be putting off starting Chemo until Monday to give him a chance to recover and stabilize from all of this.

He's been eager to do everything the doctors ask him of him and has had an amazing spirit the whole time. True to form, even as he faces these challenges, it's Gio reminding everyone he loves to stay strong. His positive attitude is infectious, and reminds us all that this is a battle they can win!

We can't finish this update without acknowledging the unbelievable amount of support that this community has shown in the last 24 hours. The family would like to say thank you for everything. That saying thank you just isn't enough, there really are no words that can express how much gratitude they have for you all. Thank you for loving Gio as much as they do.

$10,000 dollars, from 72 donors, all within 17 hours... the outpouring of love and support shown here is something that can never be forgotten. It will give this family the ability to fight this head on, stay present with their child during the scary times, and know they will be able to keep a roof over everyone's head in the meantime. Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for every prayer, every share of this post, ever dollar given to show support. This is a team effort, and I am so proud of this community. Please, I know we have raised a lot, but there will be so many unexpected charges, so many bills, so many unknowns coming their way; we have to continue. Share these updates, pray and then pray again, donate if you haven't already. The fight has just begun for this family, let's get them to the finish line together.

Original Post May 8th:

Diana and her son Gio are facing an unimaginable challenge. Just last night, Gio was sent to Children's Medical Center and was diagnosed with a brain tumor that was restricting spinal fluid and causing dangerous pressure in his brain. He underwent emergency surgery to relieve the pressure, and when the initial stint didn’t work as expected, he had to return for a second surgery. Thankfully, the pressure has been relieved, and doctors were able to diagnose the tumor as Non-Germinomatuous Germ Cell Tumor (NGGCT). While this diagnosis is frightening, there is hope—this type of cancer is extremely sensitive to chemotherapy, and children diagnosed with NGGCT have a strong chance at beating it and living a long, healthy life.

The road ahead will be tough. Gio’s treatment plan involves 18 weeks of chemotherapy cycles, followed by 4-6 weeks of radiation. This means weekly, sometimes daily, trips to Children’s Medical for treatment. Diana will need to take time off work and find care for her two other young children while she supports Gio through his treatments. She has an amazing support system, her family, that shares this burden with her and will continue to help coordinate their new schedules and challenges together, but they also face their own challenges. Abuelo Berna is also receiving weekly treatment as he is currently fighting Stage 3 colon cancer. Together, and with God, they will find a way, as they always do, but the financial burden is immense. Now both Diana's household and her family's households have to prepare for long drives, places to stay during treatment, and the challenge of covering household bills like rent and utilities with missed work.

Please send Gio, Diana, and their whole family all the prayers we can, and thank you for the prayers already received. We know it is prayer and God’s strength that have led them this far. Any help we can provide for this family will ease their stress during this scary time. We will continue to provide updates on his treatment as we learn more.