Valentina's path to recovery from cancer (21 months old)

Hello, we are Jöyce and Adölfo parents of Emiliö and Valentįna.

This is our story in short: in mid September 2024 after visiting the doctor for what we thought it was a virus, because Valentįna had just started daycare, we discovered a lump on the right side of her belly. Her pediatrician sent us directly to the ER (Montreal's Children's Hospital) and there, after some ultrasounds and X-rays, they gave us the bad news: our daughter had a big tumour in her right kidney, this is a kidney cancer also known as Wilm's tumour (or nephroblastoma). We would later know it weighed about 1.5 lbs.

We were devastated but had to ready up to face the situation given that it was critical to act quickly before the tumor ruptured, thus treatments were started the very next day. After a CT scan the medical team decided to do chemotherapy first for 4 weeks to try to make the tumour smaller because it was extremely risky to operate it being so big! They installed a "PICC line" and Thursday of the same week (ER was on a monday) she started chemo. So, after the 4 weeks and 2 of "break" she had surgery to take out the tumour. It was a 10+h and very risky surgery but thankfully after taking 10% of her liver the wonderful doctors were able to take out the whole tumour, along with the right kidney where the tumor started. After 2 weeks of recovey at the hospital she started 8 days of radiotherapy, because she's still a baby she had to be slept for all these sessions. Rough days but we did it, however 2 weeks after this she had an intestinal blocage (occlusion) and she had to be operated again! After another 2 weeks at the hospital she finally seems to have a break, we continue with 27 weeks of chemotherapy.

She is then living with one kidney, but it will fail eventually because it was discovered the cancer had a genetic cause (WT1 gene) which is also at the root of a nephrotic syndrome. She will eventually require dialisis and then at some point a kidney transplant.

Thank you for taking the time to read until this point. So, as you might guess for the past 3 months we hadn't been able to work or do anything else that taking care of Valentina and continue to offer as much as we can, a normal life to Emilio, her wonderful big brother (4 years old) who has been very compassionate, lovely, caring and patient with all this situation!

We've been very fortunate to count on Adölfo's job insurance, but this only goes so far and I (Jöyce) do not have any salary replacement since I am coming from maternity leave.

We have been so blessed to have already received help from friends and family, many of whom suggested we create this campaign to create a little fund that will allow us to stay by her bedside a bit more and get a financial foot for the big and hard steps coming along.

We know and see so many and families in hardship alongside us fighting everyday, and therefore we feel the most grateful for your help. May god bless you and all those you love .

We appreciate the sharing of this page, all your prayers, thoughts of love and healing for our princess! May it multiples in health and success for you and your families.