Each year in the United States, an estimated 15,780 children between the ages of birth and 19 years old are diagnosed with cancer. Globally, this figure increases to 300,000. This means, every three minutes, somewhere in the world, a family hears the devastating news—your child has cancer. For the Espinal family, this unimaginable scenario has defined the last 10 years of their lives.
At 14 years old, Cristina Espinal was diagnosed with an aggressive form of osteosarcoma. Survival rates for children diagnosed with this type of bone cancer range from 39 to 74 percent, depending on the localization of the cancer. By the time Espinal was diagnosed, the cancer had metastasized to her lungs.
The Espinal family was not interested in these statistics or the percentages. They were focused on finding a cure for their outgoing, creative daughter who had so much left to live for. Their answer came in the form of renowned specialist, Tom Temple, M.D., who, at the time, was not only surgically treating childhood cancer patients, but also leading groundbreaking sarcoma research efforts at Nova Southeastern University’s Cell Therapy Institute.
At her first visit, when Espinal summoned the courage to ask Temple, “Am I going to die?” He responded, “Over my dead body. We’re just going to become very good friends for the next nine months.” It was Temple’s confident and reassuring bedside manner that bolstered Espinal and her family during their journey.
“I left all my friends from Colombia to come to live in Miami to get treated here. My family moved with me—they were the best support ever.
I got the best treatment I could have. I was with the best people. Dr. Temple is the best in this field,” Espinal said. “I feel so grateful to have been able to—this sounds weird—but to have the opportunity to have been treated there.”
As promised, Temple successfully treated Espinal’s cancer, and 10 years later, she remains cancer-free. Today, she is a college graduate and freelance photographer. She recently started an online photography store while she pursues graduate design programs to continue her photography training.
In gratitude for their daughter’s health, the Espinal family directed their philanthropy to cancer research efforts at NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD). Researchers there are dedicated to innovative translational biomedical and cancer immunotherapy research.
Her story and the Espinal family’s generosity have inspired others to give as well.
“I watch NSU’s researchers arrive to the NSU Center for Collaborative Research every day, put on their lab coats, and get to work,” said Shannon Brown Wayte, executive director of advancement at NSU MD. “I am fortunate to know them as individuals, as well as scientists, and I am confident of this: Their ability to move the needle in the fight against cancer is matched only by their desire to make a difference.”
For more information on how to support cancer research and NSU MD, contact Shannon Brown Wayte, executive director of advancement, at (954) 529-6776 or via email at shannon.wayte@nova.edu.