Starting over in a new country while caring for a child with cancer brought challenges the family never imagined they would face.
In early July 2024, at just 1 year old, sweet Rogelio’s life and his family’s world changed forever when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). After spending a month receiving treatment in their home country, his parents faced an incredibly difficult decision. Wanting to give their son access to the best possible treatment and care, they made the courageous choice to bring Rogelio to the United States.
For Rogelio’s family, building a new life also meant learning how to find their way through an entirely unfamiliar system of care. They had to navigate insurance, language barriers, transportation, and the difficult process of finding the right hospital and medical team for Rogelio. Through it all, Mom and Dad continued to advocate for their little boy and make sure he received the care he needed. By mid-August 2024, Rogelio was finally able to begin his treatment here in the United States.
While cancer has been a major part of Rogelio’s journey, it has also affected the entire family. Rogelio is not only a brave little boy fighting leukemia, but also a twin brother and one of six children. His parents have had to balance hospital visits, treatments, appointments, and the everyday needs of their other five children. With no extended family nearby to help, the weight of this journey has often fallen entirely on Mom and Dad.
For a family navigating so much in an unfamiliar place, having a community beside them has made a meaningful difference. Mom is incredibly grateful for the support they have received from Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance. From providing beds for every member of the family, something they had never experienced before, to providing clothing for the children, Keaton’s has helped meet some of the family’s most basic needs during an incredibly difficult season.
One of the greatest needs has been diapers for Rogelio and his twin brother. With the financial strain that comes with childhood cancer, even everyday necessities can become overwhelming. Knowing that they could turn to Keaton’s for support has given the family one less thing to worry about and allowed them to focus more of their energy on what matters most: caring for their children and supporting Rogelio through treatment.
For more than two years, Rogelio has shown incredible strength. His family has watched him grow, face countless appointments and treatments, and continue moving forward one day at a time. There have undoubtedly been moments of fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty, but there have also been moments of hope, love, and celebration.
And now, the finish line is finally in sight.
Rogelio is expected to ring the bell in October 2026, marking the end of his cancer treatment. After everything this family has experienced since that life-changing diagnosis in July 2024, it is hard for them to believe that they are almost there.
That bell will represent so much more than the end of treatment. It will represent every difficult day they made it through, every appointment, every treatment, every sacrifice, every prayer, and every moment their family continued to choose hope.
We are so proud of Rogelio and his entire family and will be cheering them on as they take these final steps toward the finish line. We cannot wait to stand beside them, celebrate this incredible milestone, and watch sweet Rogelio ring that bell. His story is a beautiful reminder of the strength of a family, the power of hope, and the difference a caring community can make along the way.
