Samantha

Strawberry Shortcake and Samantha Manriquez are a lot alike, both like pink, both have an adorable character and both have a pet cat, but the pretty in pink patient would soon find out that she had one major difference.

“She was a healthy little girl in 2003 when she got a cold, it became strep throat and she had a hard time breathing,” says her mother, DeAnna Manriquez.

The 3-year old also had aches in her bones and complained that her legs bothered her. ”One week she would be fine and the next she would be really sick,” recalls Samantha’s father, Sonny Manriquez.

She had difficulty swallowing that ended in a trip to her pediatrician. The doctor checked her throat – Samantha’s tonsils looked like blue cheese. It was a bad case of strep throat.

The doctor prescribed medicine but her condition didn’t improve. A second visit to the pediatrician revealed the immediate need for hospitalization.

At Children’s Hospital Central California, she had a series of tests, including CAT scans, MRI’s and blood work to check for cancer. Meanwhile the young patient was not herself, completely out of it.

It was a shock to the Manriquez family that the infection they worried about turned out to be the result of a larger problem. Children’s Hospital Hematologist and Oncologist Robert Mignacca, M.D., diagnosed Samantha with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, or ALL. It’s the most common type of childhood cancer, accounting for nearly 75 percent of all childhood leukemia cases. ALL is cancer of the blood and develops in the bone marrow. This form of the disease affects the white blood cells causing them to overproduce malignant and immature cells, crowding out other blood cells in the bone marrow. It spreads to the bloodstream and other vital organs quickly, and is deadly if not treated.

“I just thought to myself, be as positive as possible to get her through this,” says Sonny.

Treatment for Samantha included antibiotics for the infection in her lymph nodes, followed by chemotherapy at the Craycroft Cancer Center at Children’s Hospital. The Center is a full member of the national Children’s Oncology Group (COG), which utilizes the latest treatment and research protocols available for treating childhood cancer.

“They treated us like family, they were right there with us,” says Dad. “From doctors, to nurses, even the cafeteria staff, they’re really good people.”

After the intense and successful treatment, Samantha still sees Oncology doctors Vonda Crouse and Cris Johnson at Children’s for chemotherapy and monitoring.

The 8-year-old is back to talking on the phone, dressing up and listening to music at the family’s home in Madera. She receives ample support, not only from her mother and father, but also from her 3-year-old sister, who adores her and emulates everything she does, including eating her favorite food, white rice.

Samantha has a lot of patience with her sister, which will help her when she grows up.

“I want to be a teacher,” she says.

Thanks to prompt medical attention, aggressive therapy and continuous follow-up care, Samantha’s prognosis is good. “Doctors have high hopes that she is going to be able to live a long, healthy life,” says Mom.

Story Sponsored by: Jim & Marie Pardini
Photo Sponsored by:  Wishon Radiological Medical Group, Inc. / Fresno Breast Center