By GRAACC - Grupo de Apoio ao Adolescente e a Crianca | Equipe de Comunicacao do Hospital GRAACC
In the sweltering heat of Belém, in the state of Pará, amidst games and laughter, there was a boy who never stopped. Little Leandro was a bundle of energy. His days began at six in the morning and only ended at night when he was exhausted, begging to watch one more cartoon until sleep overtook him. He was lively, loving, and passionate about animals – especially cats. His dream was to rescue all the stray cats from the streets to care for them. Those who knew him understood that he had a heart larger than his small frame and a strong, determined personality that foreshadowed the man he would become.
In 2014, at the age of five, his vitality gave way to something different. Leandro began experiencing a persistent cough that no medication seemed to cure. Denise, his mother, a biologist accustomed to observing details, felt something was wrong with her son. Amid visits to and from the hospital, she insisted on more detailed tests. “I’m not leaving here without an X-ray,” she told the ER doctor, who later admitted that her determination had saved her son’s life.
The test results revealed a tumor in the mediastinum, devastating news that shook the family to its core. Mauro, the father, a Merchant Navy officer, was at sea when he received the news. Far from home, he was met with the compassion of his captain, who immediately granted him leave. “Go take care of your son,” he said.
Denise and Mauro made a crucial decision: to take their son to GRAACC in São Paulo. Without knowing anyone and armed only with courage and faith, they left Belém for an uncertain future. At the hospital, they were welcomed by a medical team that combined science, compassion, and spirituality. “This is a piece of God on Earth,” they affirm.
The treatment lasted nine months, a period marked by silent battles and glimmers of hope. Leandro faced chemotherapy sessions with resilience, and between one medication and another, he would run around the playroom as if the illness weren’t there. At home, with his parents, he was more than just a patient – he was an example of strength. One night, he caught Mauro sitting on the floor, head down. “Dad, it’s hard, isn’t it?” he said, with the wisdom of someone who seems to carry more lives than his few years. “Don’t give up on me.” Those words transformed Mauro, who went from a defeated man to a lionhearted father, ready to overcome any obstacle for his son.
Today, at 15 years old and cancer-free, the young man lives in Belém with his parents. He is a lively teenager, with the same strong temperament and generous heart as before. His story is more than a victory against cancer; it is a testament to the power of love, faith, and persistence. At GRAACC, he found more than just treatment: he found a second chance, and his family found a temporary home filled with care and solidarity.
Happy endings like Leandro’s are only possible because of the support and solidarity of thousands of people who believe in our work and donate resources. Their contributions allow us to continue offering better recovery chances and quality of life to children and adolescents with cancer.
By GRAACC - Grupo de Apoio ao Adolescente e a Crianca | Equipe de Comunicacao do Hospital GRAACC
By Comunication Team of GRAACC Hospital | Project Leader
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