Letter from Hospital Social Worker:
Dear Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation,
Throughout the admission, it was determined that the best way to give Matilde a chance was to amputate her arm. Her family made the difficult decision to move forward with it. During all of this, Matilde wished and wished for her mother to be with her. With the help of very beautiful organizations/people, this dream came true, and Matilde was able to be reunited with her mother.
Matilde continues to fight on. She cannot return to Ecuador, as we know the treatments she needs are not available to her there. Her mother and her are here alone. Her treatment demands and having no other possible caregivers means mom cannot work. Her family in Ecuador does not have the funds to maintain them here. They struggle most with covering expenses like food, household items, gas, and car insurance. Any assistance for this family would be so greatly appreciated. They are a humble family in true need of continued kindness and support.
Kind regards,Pediatric Social Worker – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Plea from Mother:
My name is Matilde Alcivar and I am the mother of Matilde Valenzuela. She is 5 years old, and in October 2022, she was diagnosed with high grade Osteosarcoma. For us, this news was very painful and, more than anything, it has been very painful for Matildita, because at her early age she has suffered so much due to this terrible disease. We are from Ecuador and on December 29, 2022, Maty flew to the United States to fulfil a final wish of going to Disney World, something she so desperately wanted since she was 3 years old. Unfortunately, my husband and I did not have our visas and we could not grant Maty her wish. On that day, she came with my sister.
Just a month before this flight, in November, the cancer hospital in Ecuador told us her diagnosis was very bad and there was no cure. When she finally landed in Miami, my daughter began to feel bad, provoked by the pressures on the plane, and her right arm began to swell right where she had a large tumor that caused her much pain. She required emergency hospitalization. For me, as a mother, this was so frustrating because I was not able to be with her during this challenging and painful time for her. While she was in the hospital, she started treatment immediately to try for a second chance at life. It was very difficult and painful for her in the beginning. She went through so much and the doctors could not find any other solution but to amputate her right arm. She underwent the amputation in February of this year. There were many risks involved but, the truth is, we had to make this decision to give my daughter some quality of life. In the end, this turned into hopes of a future life for her.
On March 13, 2023, I was finally able to come to Miami to be with my baby. Thanks be to God and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. My daughter’s wish at this point was to see me again, and hug me, and they helped this wish come true. From then on, we have kept on fighting and firmly believing that God is giving us an opportunity – a gift, a marvelous kind of miracle for all of us, especially my baby.
Since this time, we have stayed in the U.S. fighting on with the certainty that Matilde will be cured of this terrible disease. Matilde and I are alone here in Miami and, unfortunately, it is very hard to pay for what we need. I am not able to work because I have no one to help me care for Matilde and I try to do everything in my power to make sure she is well taken care of. It is thanks to the Jessica June Foundation and other foundations that have helped me with our needs. It has been so helpful, but this journey is long and, unfortunately, my family does not have the economic resources necessary to help me anymore and I ask all those who wish to help with even a grain of sand to please do so, so we can continue with my daughter’s treatment and second chance at being cured.
I say goodbye now, very grateful for all the support, and always praying to God to multiply your blessings.
Attentively yours,
