Unstoppable Testimonies

Hello! I am Gabriel and when I was 15 months old I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

I had a very high fever for about 6 weeks and they told my mother that it was an ear infection or a virus, but with the help of the paediatrician at the health centre they managed to get the necessary tests done to find out exactly what I had. My mother knew something was wrong, but she never imagined this diagnosis, which was terrible news for her. In spite of this, she gathered all her strength together so that I would not see her sad.

Since my first chemo I have been improving and I gradually started to feel better. Neutrophils slowly started to rise, as I only had one when I was diagnosed. On my first admission I had four blood transfusions and the other three transfusions were spaced out over time. And I only needed one platelet transfusion. With a lot of patience, I managed to eat better and a little bit of everything… After the first month I had a puncture to assess how the treatment was going and… my body had reacted! My marrow was clear of leukaemic cells. After a fortnight, I was tested again and had the same good result. At first my doctors were worried, but when they saw my progress they were happy.

My mother was by my side during this struggle, making sure my recovery was good, quick and with as little pain as possible. I have to say that it was a complicated time, as my twin brother, Martin, also wanted to be with her. She did everything she possibly could to be with us every day. This was possible thanks to the help of my father and my grandmothers.

After 60 days, I was discharged and it was wonderful. What a thrill! When we got home, Martin was very surprised to see me, but we immediately embraced each other. Being all together at home was a dream come true. At the beginning it was a bit of a drag, as I couldn’t leave my home, but things got better and better.

Time went by and the treatment progressed. A few weeks before my second birthday, the hospital admissions for chemotherapy came to end and I was able to start living a more normal life.

It’s been a few months since the end of the hospital chemotherapy, intrathecal, intramuscular, etc. Now we only go to the hospital for check-ups to make sure everything is OK. It has not all been plain sailing. I have had some additional admissions due to bacteria and viruses. I even had my catheter removed due to a rare recurring bacteria! Even so, the most important thing is that I am now well and I can continue to play pranks with Martin.

At the Foundation they wrote a story of my story, you can read it here: https://www.fcarreras.org/es/Gabrielesimparable

Gabriel