“Hi! I’m Alejandra, Mateo’s mom.
In 2017, when he was just three months old, Mateo was diagnosed with a hypothalamic-optic brain tumor—the first known case in Spain in a baby his age. The first thing they told us in the ER was to say goodbye, because there was nothing they could do and he likely wouldn’t make it through the night.
Today, nearly seven years later, he’s still here—leaving his mark on the medical world by participating in a study that includes his full medical history, in the hope of helping other little ones facing this devastating disease.
Every single day, he shows us that love, strength, and resilience have no limits—and that expectations can be shattered, especially when you have an incredible medical team capable of working miracles.
His brother Alejandro is a true hero too, having faced this entire journey since he was just five years old.
It hasn’t been an easy road, and it still isn’t. Mateo has undergone many surgeries and chemotherapy, and he lives with lasting effects like blindness, developmental delays, and motor impairments. That’s why therapy is such a crucial part of his daily life.
The Aladina Foundation has been an essential support system. Every Thursday, Julieta—a therapy dog—comes to visit and helps Mateo engage more with his surroundings and develop his sense of touch.
Thanks to their financial assistance, we were also able to get a walker for Mateo, which has been vital for his motor development, sensory stimulation, and, most importantly, for helping him interact with his classmates during recess.
Thank you, Eva, for always thinking of us and including us in everything the foundation organizes, and for genuinely caring about how we’re doing. All I can say is—thank you from the bottom of my heart!”