Hello, my name is Natalia Cuadrado, and the sweet girl in the photos is my little sister, Willow Cuadrado. Willow is only 10 years old, but she's already lived a harder life than most. She's vibrant, loving, and full of energy. She loves playing video games, hiking in creeks, and spending time with her best friend, Finn.
In May 2025, Willow was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called Juvenile Ossifying Fibroma. The tumor is located above the clivus, pressing on her 6th optic nerve and encasing her left internal carotid artery. This has caused her to see double and face serious complications with treatment.
On May 30, Willow underwent surgery in hopes of removing the entire tumor. Unfortunately, because the tumor is wrapped around her left internal carotid artery, removing it completely would risk severe neurological damage. This means that her journey is far from over as it grows back quickly and aggressively and the ony treatment is surgery. At her three month checkup they found that the tumor had grown back and she will be facing surgery again October 17th, 2025 with total resection not possible and recurrence expected again and again until she stops growing.
Since May, Willow has undergone another surgery to remove her brain tumor. During her recovery, she developed a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, causing fluid to drain from her nose and requiring her to remain completely flat for extended periods to prevent infection. Due to this complication, Willow’s hospital stay has been significantly prolonged.
She was discharged on November 4th; however, only a few days later she awoke at 4 a.m. with severe symptoms, including vomiting, difficulty walking, and a fever of 103°F. After visiting the emergency room and another 4 day hospital stay, tests confirmed that the fluid leaking from her nose was again cerebrospinal fluid.
Willow is scheduled for another surgery on Friday, November 21st, to repair the CSF leak and prevent recurrent infections.
We're reaching out for help to raise $250,000 to support Willow's ongoing medical care and give her the chance to enjoy the childhood she deserves. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to making that possible.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading Willow's story and for helping us fight for her future.