Genesis was born in August 2020. When she was three months old, her mother, Diane, a health professional, noticed alarming symptoms: persistent diarrhea and inconsolable crying, as if she were in severe pain.
She rushed Genesis to the emergency room in Ponce, Puerto Rico. After a complete blood count revealed an astonishingly high white blood cell count of 212,900, the doctor said Genesis needed to be seen by a hematologist-oncologist immediately.
That day was the beginning of a challenging journey. Genesis was transferred to the San Juan Pediatric Medical Center Hospital, where more tests were conducted. After many long hours, the oncologist delivered the diagnosis: Genesis had acute myeloid leukemia.
Genesis underwent four phases of chemotherapy from November 2020 to April 2021. She achieved remission after the first two rounds. Additional rounds of chemotherapy helped her maintain remission while a transplant center was identified. However, the family faced another hurdle: finding a hospital to perform a stem cell transplant.
They faced rejection from two hospitals due to financial constraints, leaving them worried and scared. Finally, the family found UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, which accepted Genesis for her transplant.
“It was the best news I had ever received,” Diane says.
'A Safe Place for My Daughter'
“When I got to UPMC Children’s, I was very scared. I didn’t know what was going to happen to Genesis, but the entire staff was very kind and made me feel like I was in a safe place for my daughter, and that was exactly what I needed at that time,” recalls Diane. “Without a doubt, one of the kindest people is Dr. Randy Windreich. My husband calls him, ‘the best doctor ever.’ He came into our lives at the perfect time. He gave us the security, attention, and care that both our daughter and we needed.”
Randy Windreich, MD, is a pediatric bone marrow transplant specialist and the clinical director of the Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapies at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
“Genesis had a pretty complicated treatment course before she arrived in Pittsburgh, with many infections and some injury to her kidneys," Dr. Windreich shared. "Fortunately, she’s a very tough little girl.”
The family also received support from the UPMC Children’s International Services team. They are grateful for the help they received from Maria Cecilia Dancisin and Neal Smalley, who guided them through every step of the process, ensuring they understood what was happening.
The International Services Team assists traveling patients through the coordination of a variety of services, including care appointments, housing, transportation, language interpretation, and more.
"With the help of our colleagues in the International office, from the day Genesis and her family first arrived in Pittsburgh until they left two-and-a-half years later, we were able to communicate seamlessly with her family in both the inpatient and outpatient settings about her treatment plan, possible risks and side effects, and management of complications when they arose,” said Dr. Windreich. “Collaborating with Mariace, Neal, and Alejandro regularly made our job exponentially easier and allowed us to continue to provide top-notch care to our patients and their families.”
In preparation for the transplant, Genesis underwent nearly two weeks of intensive chemotherapy to wipe out her own bone marrow and prepare her immune system. Diane vividly remembers those weeks as the longest of her life. However, she did have the unwavering support of Dr. Windreich and the team at UPMC Children’s.
“They explained everything to us step by step; from the plan to place the Broviac lines, to the names of each chemotherapy drug, explaining their consequences and risks so that my husband and I could understand everything,” said Diane.
A Chance at a Healthy Future
Genesis received an umbilical cord blood transplant in May 2021, a life-changing procedure that would offer her a chance at a healthy future.
Genesis’ family is also grateful for the care she received from the UPMC Children’s clinical team, including nurses like Ashley, Liz, and Taylor, whose faces she will never forget.
Reflecting on this journey, Diane shares powerful lessons: “Never lose faith, no matter your beliefs. Stay strong and positive for your loved ones and support each other through difficult times.” Her favorite biblical verse from Hebrews 11:1 resonates deeply: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
“It was great to see Genesis’ growth during her time in Pittsburgh, from the fearful 8-month-old who cried whenever a provider entered the room to the 3-year-old who would march around our outpatient clinic like she owned the place and cooperated with her exams,” added Dr. Windreich.
Today, Genesis is a vibrant four-year-old, full of life and joy, thanks to the incredible care she received at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
“I will never forget what they did for my daughter. They gave her a chance at life; I will always be grateful.”
Genesis’ treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.