Jaiczielle or as everyone calls him Jaicz Jaicz was diagnosed 12/18/2019 at the age of 3 and a half years old.

When he was first diagnosed, he had a very hard time.  He would be home only for 2-day intervals, would catch fevers, and then be readmitted for 7 to 14 days at a time. On one occasion, Jaicz caught a bacterial infection that doctors said if he would have not been in the hospital that day at the onset of fever, he would not be here today. Jaicz Jaicz has matured so fast not by choice but by circumstance. He fights and is so brave. Now at 5 years old he has adapted to his medical care being part of his life. 

He loves to create things with his hands. He is a huge Lego lover. Super Mario and Batman and Joker are his favorite. He loves to draw and play tag zombies with his dad. Give him any building object and he can make you some pretty cool things! He is full of life, happy with a giggle and smile that is contagious. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, he replied ” I want to be strong! So, I can lift heavy things!” Little does he understand that his amazing strength is what made us strong and lifted us from our knees on the darkest days. He is a warrior our hero! We are strong because we are Jaicz Jaicz strong. 

Israel Lopez Diaz fue diagnosticado con leucemia linfoblastica aguda ( ALL) en abril 24, 2018 días antes de su cumpleaños número 6. Fue una batalla difícil y dura pero Gracias a dios y a todos los doctores y enfermeras de Banner children’s at Dessert el pudo acabar su 

Tratamiento Diciembre 31, 2020 y tocó la campana que venció el cancer lo logró con mucha fe, esperanza, y el amor de toda su familia. El es un niño muy fuerte y alegre en su tiempo libre le gusta jugar vídeo juegos, soccer, football con sus amigos.  Para aquellos que están pasando por una batalla similar les podemos desir que tengan mucha fe y nunca la pierdan porque dios es grande y los doctores son unos ángeles y primero Dios ganaran su batalla como Israel lo iso. 

Israel Lopez Diaz was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on April 24, 2018 days before his 6th birthday. It was a tough and tough battle but Thank God and all the doctors and nurses at Banner Children’s at Dessert he was able to finish it.

Treatment December 31, 2020 and he rang the bell that beat cancer, he achieved it with a lot of faith, hope, and the love of his entire family. He is a very strong and happy boy. In his free time, he likes to play video games, soccer, football with his friends. For those who are going through a similar battle we can tell you to have a lot of faith and never lose it because God is great and the doctors are angels and first God will win their battle as Israel is.

Our little girl, Lily, was three years old at the time and had been sick on and off again for months.  When her fever spiked from an ear infection, we took her to the emergency room.   Within hours we were dealt the most devastating blow a parent can ever receive…our Lily had leukemia. 

The financial, physical, and mental stress of a child fighting for their lives is overwhelming as a parent. Lily spent over a month living in the hospital and our lives turned upside down overnight. Over the 2.5 years of her treatment, she lost her hair twice, experienced liver failure, endured over 29 surgeries, lost hearing in her left ear, and spent almost a year in quarantine due to her fragile condition.  

Through all of her pain and suffering, Lily continued to warm us with her bright smile and big laugh.  Her spunky and tenacious attitude never failed.  With tired legs and aching bones, Lily still never stopped trying to run, dance and play and it was all we could do to keep up with her.  She has taught us that life is too short to waste, that dreams have to be chased and that family and love are the most precious gifts of all. 

Today, Lily is seven years old and cancer free!  Her hair has grown back, her hearing loss has been repaired and she is loving every moment of a life free from treatments.  She is still unstoppable: loves to run, dance, swim and play!   We thank God every day for the gift of Lily.  Her journey is the inspiration behind our family founding the nonprofit – Lily’s Pad.

Lily’s Pad is working to give every child the freedom to play!

During a routine exam in June 2016, it was discovered that Christian had no vision in his right eye and was diagnosed with Brain Cancer.  Brain surgery left him completely blind, and life as we knew it, changed forever.

Life revolved around chemo, countless MRI’s and daily medication to treat permanent effects caused by the tumor.

Christian has taken his “disability” and turned it into his ABILITY! He is an amazing boy that puts forth his happiness and positivity in everything he does and with everyone he meets. He loves swimming, playing drums, and riding his bike. In school, and with SAAVI (Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired) he is learning to read and write braille, use his walking cane, and tackle daily life activities. He is not afraid to try or learn new things, and won’t stop until he gets it right! 

Christian continues to have MRIs every 3 months, as well as specialty appointments to monitor treatments for permanent illness caused by the tumor.

Amidst all of these continuous challenges and changes, Christian continues to thrive. He reminds us every day that nothing is impossible as long as we have faith and hope.