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Elizabeth lived with her husband and their 2-year-old daughter, Maria, in Panama. In November of 2008, she noticed Maria was having difficulties walking and was often losing her balance.

Elizabeth took her daughter to a local hospital in Panama where doctors suspected that her condition was due to some type of poisoning, and prescribed medications. Two weeks later, her health deteriorated and she began to have pain in her neck and frequent nausea.

Once again they took her to the hospital, but this time the neurologist ordered several exams to determine her ailment. Maria's parents never imagined what the results of her exams would be. Maria was suffering from a brain tumor and needed emergency surgery to remove it.

"I never imagined that I would be going through something like this. I couldn't understand how a baby could have such a terrible disease," her mother said.

Maria underwent a 12-hour surgery but only part of the tumor was able to be removed. At that point, her doctors in Panama referred her to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "When I arrived at St. Jude my hope resurfaced. Here I was able to have the faith to help my daughter go forward," said Elizabeth.

At St. Jude Maria took part in a protocol that required surgery to remove the rest of the tumor that was threatening her life. She also received radiation treatments and several chemotherapy sessions.