VILLAHERMOSA, TABASCO, September 11, 2023.- Amidst applause and chanting “¡Sí Se pudo!” (Yes, We Could), personnel from the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) in Tabasco accompanied José David on his way down the red carpet to reach the “bell of life” and ring it as a symbol of victory in overcoming cancer.
After a three-year treatment and two years of follow-up at the State Reference Center for the Care of Children with Cancer (OncoCREAN), with the work of a multidisciplinary team from the General Zone Hospital (HGZ) No. 46, in Villahermosa, the 8-year-old boy is free of the disease and will only visit the unit every three months for his medical control studies.
José David overcame acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) -a type of blood cancer formed by immature cells whose warning signs for his parents were fever, joint pains, bruises, as well as bleeding from the mouth and nose, indicated the hematology specialist of the HGZ No. 46, Juan Carlos Mejía Martínez.
He explained that when the evaluation studies were carried out, in which data of his disease were observed, the treatment and the opportune approach with chemotherapy was determined on a continuous basis.
Mejia Martinez emphasized that the OncoCREAN care program increases the survival rate of patients, since there are qualified personnel in the Pediatrics, Emergency and Hospitalization services. “The infrastructure, training and equipment have been strengthened to guarantee the care of minors,” he emphasized.
The hematologist indicated that it is a moment of great satisfaction when a patient rings the “bell of life” as a symbol of having successfully completed the chemotherapy treatment to start the surveillance stage.
For his part, Bersain, the child’s father, acknowledged the care provided by OncoCREAN: “They were like angels who were taking care of my son and I am very grateful to all of them”.
Likewise, Brenda Esther, mother of José David, thanked the people who intervened in the treatment and recovery of the child and expressed: “I told my son, ‘You were once born in this hospital’, and here he has been born again to a new life”.
TYT Newsroom
