SAN ANTONIO – We are just two weeks away from the annual Light The Night event at Hemisfair Park.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society hosts the event every year to celebrate, honor, and remember those affected by blood cancers.
Not everyone can make it to the walk because they might still be in treatment, which is why CHRISTUS Children’s hosted its own Light The Night event.
Beautiful parade of lanterns yesterday at @childrenshospsa for its Light The Afternoon celebration with the @LLSusa. This event allows children still getting treatment to participate in LTN. Here from a survivor ringing the bell to mark the end of treatment at 6 on @ksatnews pic.twitter.com/EXXjsLImxs
— Leigh Waldman (@LeighWaldman) September 29, 2023
Thursday was a day of celebration at the hospital for the families of Elizabeth, Clarissa, and Brisi.
“To hear that like you’re finally good is like weird, but it’s a good thing,” Brisi Mauricio, a patient, said.
Brisi and her family have been driving from Eagle Pass to CHRISTUS Children’s since the summer of 2020, when she was diagnosed with AML, a form of Leukemia.
“It was very hard to do this. I didn’t know what I was getting into, what we were going into,” Brisi’s mom, Nora, said.
Brisi’s family stood with her as she rang the bell three times marking the end of her cancer treatments.
“I hope that I’m a hope for any other kid that’s there fighting. And anyone else is out there fighting to see that there is a good outcome and that they’re able to do this,” Brisi said.
The bell ringing and the walk through the garden is a part of CHRISTUS’ Light the Night afternoon celebration with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The larger Light The Night walk is happening at Hemisfair Park on Oct. 14.
“It’s a very heartwarming experience, especially being in the position that I am here at this hospital, making sure that our kiddos are not missing out and still experiencing everything they can,” said Alexis Medina, Child Life Coordinator for CHRISTUS Children’s.
The white lanterns are carried by survivors, red for their supporters, and gold is carried in memory of those who died of cancer.
Matthew Sinclair is a registered nurse at CHRISTUS and a childhood cancer survivor.
Sinclair knows firsthand how these celebrations help in a patients’ cancer journeys.
“It’s part of that marathon that is survivorship, that we kick cancer’s butt then, and we’re going to keep doing it moving forward,” Sinclair said.
Brisi said now that she’s done with treatment, she’s focused on the future, which includes becoming a nurse to work with kids battling cancer, just like she did.