When Ciro Obregon was just 16 months old, his dad, Abiel, noticed that Ciro’s eye movement seemed irregular. To be safe, Ciro was referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist. That appointment led to an MRI, followed by the unexpected and devastating news that Ciro had medulloblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.
Initially, we thought it was just unusual eye movement that could be treated with physical therapy,
Ciro’s mom, Rita, explained. The MRI was just a precautionary measure, so we were stunned when they told us he had a tumor. Then, it was the speed and urgency of getting Ciro to the specialists at CHRISTUS Children’s that scared us.
Within a week of the MRI, Ciro underwent surgery to remove the baseball-sized tumor. In the days that followed, Rita and Abiel anxiously awaited the biopsy results, which confirmed that Ciro’s tumor was malignant and would require intense chemotherapy to decrease the risk of the tumor growing back.
Solid tumors, especially some brain tumors, can be more resistant to treatment, so we knew Ciro would need high-dose chemotherapy to penetrate deep into the brain and kill any remaining cancer cells,
explained Dr. Laurie Davis, a bone marrow transplant physician with CHRISTUS Children’s Cancer & Blood Disorders Clinic. During his initial cycles of chemotherapy, we performed a stem cell harvest so that his stem cells could be returned to him during the time of his most intensive treatment. Without those healthy stem cells, his immune system would be wiped out for several months following this high-dose chemotherapy, compared to a few weeks.
CHRISTUS Children's Cancer & Blood Disorders Clinic in San Antonio provides patient-centered care for pediatric and young adult blood and bone marrow transplant patients. Our specialists provide exceptional care for inpatient or outpatient patients.
Ciro started chemotherapy in early February and quickly captured the hearts of CHRISTUS Children’s staff. I can’t say enough about the nurses and the Child Life team,
Rita said. As soon as we would arrive, I’d hear the nurses call Child Life and say, ‘Ciro’s here, can you bring the superheroes he loves?’ Once they found out his favorite was Batman, they went out of their way to get Batman toys for him. And they didn’t just care for Ciro, they took care of us as a family.
Rita recalls that the Child Life team—specialists who help children and families cope with hospitalization—was very attuned to the needs of Atom, Ciro’s then 5-year-old brother.
Atom had to come with us to the hospital a lot, so Child Life would remember to bring toys for him or take Atom to a separate play area for a break,
Rita said. “There were many times when the nurses or Child Life would care for both boys so I could catch my breath.”
Ciro’s first three cycles of chemotherapy were intense, but the side effects were manageable, so he would be sent home soon after treatment.
As part of Ciro’s diagnostic workup, Dr. Julie Voeller, his primary oncologist, discussed genetic testing with Rita and Abiel.
It was an unusual tumor to see in a child his age, so I was worried about the possibility of a genetic predisposition that could put him at risk for other conditions or cancers,
explained Dr. Voeller. We found that Ciro had Gorlin syndrome, a rare genetic condition that increases the risk for certain cancers, including brain and skin cancers. After testing Rita and Abiel, we confirmed that this genetic condition was maternally inherited. This diagnosis not only provides us with surveillance and early detection guidelines for Ciro, it also benefits everyone on Rita’s side of the family by helping them understand what to watch for and how to better protect themselves.
While the diagnosis provided answers, the news devastated Rita.
Dr. Voeller and my husband kept reminding me there was no way I could have known I would pass on this condition, but it felt like all of the pain Ciro was enduring was my fault,
Rita said. This is where I don’t think I would have made it through Ciro’s journey if we had been at another hospital. I was dying inside, and every single team member we encountered was a blessing. All I can say is that CHRISTUS Children’s is filled with angels. I’ll never be able to thank them enough for what they did for me, Ciro, Atom and Abiel.
That compassionate care would become even more important as Ciro prepared for his fourth, fifth and sixth chemotherapy cycles. These rounds would deliver the highest doses of chemotherapy and be followed by infusions of his healthy stem cells.
I tell parents that the weeks following a high-dose chemotherapy treatment and stem cell transplant are like driving a boat,” Dr. Davis explained. “If you turn the boat too fast, it flips, so we have to make small adjustments every day to navigate the boat in the direction we want it to go. This means checking Ciro’s labs up to twice a day, managing his fluid levels and addressing any chemotherapy side effects. This phase of treatment wasn’t without challenges, but Ciro did well overall.
Everyone was great about reminding us to take it day by day,” Rita said. “We had their support when we were at the hospital and even after we returned home to Laredo. Our social worker did a fantastic job of checking in on us and connecting us with local resources to support our family during these challenging times. Every step of the way, they gave us hope for the future.
Ciro completed treatment shortly after his second birthday in September 2024. He’s thriving but continues to visit CHRISTUS Children’s regularly.
“We’re holding our breath until September 2025,” Rita said. The possibility of his tumor coming back is the highest in the first year after treatment. That’s when we’ll get a final MRI to confirm the tumor hasn’t returned. What’s amazing is that our follow-up visits are fun for Ciro and Atom. I thought they would be traumatized by hospitals, but they run to the door because they’re excited to see the friends we’ve made throughout this journey.
The experience that the Obregon family had is why I work here,
Dr. Davis said. I remember how scared Rita and Abiel were the first time we met. I had the honor to see them grow as individuals, parents and as a couple, rising to meet every challenge that came their way. It’s very rewarding to see the entire family so happy now.
At CHRISTUS Children’s, no child or family walks through pediatric cancer care alone. From diagnosis to survivorship, our pediatric oncology team provides compassionate, individualized and innovative care to every child.
Our goal is to provide the kind of comprehensive care you’d find at a large academic center—but closer to home,
Dr. Voeller said. From our inpatient nurses and Child Life team to our genetics clinic and social workers, we’re equipped to provide personalized physical, emotional and spiritual care for every patient and their family.
Learn more about our pediatric oncology services at CHRISTUS Children’s.
