Meet Susanita: 2022 Family Advocacy Day Champion

Susanita is participating in Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day from June 12-14. Through this event, Susanita and her family will discuss her health journey, El Paso Children’s Hospital’s role in providing her with necessary health care services, and why the public and our elected officials must invest in the future of patients like Susanita.

When Susanita was three years old, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

“The diagnosis was devastating to our family,” says Susana, Susanita’s mother. “I thought my world was over and that I was going to lose my daughter. We are so thankful for the specialists at El Paso Children’s Hospital—they saved my daughter’s life.”

It was a tough battle. Susanita relapsed three times. Each time she underwent another round of chemotherapy. She received three rounds of chemotherapy total and participated in one CAR T-cell clinical therapy trial. She also had two bone marrow transplants.

Today, Susanita is 12 years old and doing well. She still checks in with the oncology specialists at El Paso Children’s Hospital, but she is living a full life. She is active and enjoys playing volleyball.