1-year-old with brain tumor battles cancer

A local woman whose baby was diagnosed with a brain tumor is currently on his sixth-cycles of chemotherapy.

“He loves his brother and sister,” said Marlene Lopez, El Centro resident and participant in Bailando Por un Sueño.

“He loves to watch cartoons. He’s always a happy baby,” said Lopez.

At five months old, baby Jacob was very sick with the flu.

“We stayed at the hospital for six days, and they let us go home. When we went home, half of his body paralyzed,” said Lopez.

It was a scare like no other. Local doctors decided to transfer Jacob to San Diego for medical help.

After a CT scan, Marlene was hit with the news that Jacob had a cancerous tumor in his brain.

Two days later and with no time to waste, Jacob was in surgery.

“It’s a very aggressive tumor, they were able to remove it. They removed 98% of it,” said Lopez.

“He’s getting chemo, they think it’s all gone from his brain and his spine, but it’s very aggressive, it comes back,” said Lopez.

Marlene’s biggest prayer is that Jacob stays cancer free.

“He amazes us, he’s reaching his milestones,” said Lopez.

Doctors said the chemotherapy Jacob went through could delay his development, but he has proven otherwise.

“He started crawling, he’s standing on his own. He started speaking. Things that the doctor told me wouldn’t happen,” said Lopez.

Jacob just turned one, and will be starting his sixth cycle of chemo.

“It’s a great thing that they do for kids like him and families that are going through tough times,” said Lopez.

Lopez’s family is one of the six local families Bailando Por un Sueno is raising funds for.

Copyright 2018 KYMA