At just 16 years old, Raquel has become an inspiration for many. You couldn’t tell by her smile or endless energy that Raquel has been fighting for her life since her early teens. Her life came to a screeching halt after she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Her parents searched for the best doctors and so Raquel became a patient at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
Soon, Raquel was going through daily cancer treatments, which included chemotherapy, which caused her hair to fall out. During her time at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Raquel began to search for ways that she could help other young cancer patients like herself. After losing all of her hair, she realized that there were no dolls that looked like her. Determined to find a doll that she and other patients could relate to, she and her best friend spent hours researching and soon found the perfect dolls. Raquel has been working tirelessly on this project so that she can bring these dolls to every child possible.
Recently, Raquel’s family was overjoyed to find out that just four months into her treatment her chemotherapy was successful and her cancer considered in remission. Raquel is now completing the rest of her treatment plan, which is set to last two and a half years.
Raquel is excited to be this year’s MCHF5K Hero. This family-friendly 5K race/walk will take place on September 17. Come out and support Raquel and her team “Oliver Forever Strong,” named after a close family friend who lost his battle to cancer.
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Where Children Matter Most (2024)
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South
Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately
850 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 307-bed
hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs
routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The
hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern
United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing
Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional
honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.