A few months ago, Gloria Juarez was just a typical 11-year-old, balancing school and cheerleading as a fifth grader at St. Monica School. But in February, she began experiencing severe headaches, nausea, and stomachaches. Everything changed dramatically in March.
“We were dropping her off at school when she had an absent seizure. We took her to the hospital, and that Monday, they told us she had a brain tumor,” said Saile Ovalle.
Soon after, the family learned that Gloria had cancer, specifically Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG), an aggressive brain cancer with no known cure.
“Since that day, it’s been incredibly hard. Life has changed so much,” Ovalle said.
Gloria underwent surgery to remove the tumor and then received 33 sessions of proton radiation. However, on June 30, doctors informed the family that the tumor had returned and sent Gloria home with only a few weeks left to live.
“I was devastated,” Ovalle recalled.
Despite the grim prognosis, Gloria and her family refuse to give up hope. Ovalle is doing everything possible to stay present with her daughter and explore alternative treatments. She has discovered a medication called ONC201, which has shown promise in trials, but local options were unavailable due to Gloria’s prior radiation. She is now working with a doctor in Germany to secure the drug. Additionally, Ovalle is hopeful about Avastin infusions, which might help, but they are still waiting for approval.
The community’s support has been a significant source of comfort. In May, Gloria received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis. Her support network, known as Gloria’s Gladiators, has raised over $78,000 to cover her treatment costs, which insurance hasn’t fully covered. Her classmates have organized fundraisers like t-shirt and lemonade sales, while restaurants and stores have donated a portion of their profits. Even loved ones in Monterrey, Mexico have held fundraisers on her behalf.
“The support has been overwhelming and incredible. It’s been a blessing to have everyone helping us with medical treatments and everything else,” said Ovalle.
Ovalle hopes that sharing their story will offer hope and information to other families facing similar challenges and that it might lead to new treatment options that could extend Gloria’s time with her loved ones.
