Phoenix Family Makes Cross-Country Road Trip for Life-Changing Treatment at Texas Children’s Hospital

Inspired by a Texas Children’s patient, Camille and her family contacted Dr. Guillermo Aldave, Director of Neurosurgery Oncology and Co-Director of the Skull Base Program at Texas Children’s Hospital.

As Camille’s family loaded up their car for a cross-country road trip, they felt like they were coming full circle.

“A car accident is actually what started this journey, oddly enough,” said Edward, Camille’s stepfather. “If it wasn’t for the car accident, we might never have learned about Camille’s cancer.”

Camille, a bright and energetic 7-year-old girl from Phoenix, Arizona, complained about neck pain not long after her family’s car accident; she had been sitting in the backseat when it happened. Assuming she had whiplash, doctors ran a series of tests, including X-rays on her spine and back.

“But they said there was nothing wrong with her,” said Edward. “However, the pain got worse and worse and we kept pushing for answers. Finally, they did an MRI: that’s when they found the cancer.”

The diagnosis

Ultimately, Camille was diagnosed with chordoma. Chordoma is a form of bone cancer that starts along the spine. When it occurs at the base of the skull, it is called a skull base chordoma. Camille’s type of chordoma — poorly differentiated chordoma (PDC) — is very rare. It affects vital structures, such as the brainstem and nerves that control the movement of the face, eyes and swallowing.

“What began as neck pain escalated quickly into a series of alarming symptoms, including changes in vision and difficulty with balance,” said Camille’s mother, Halimah. “After multiple doctor visits, we finally got the devastating news of Camille’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis. We were heartbroken.”

At first, Camille’s local hospital didn’t give her family much hope. Her cancer had spread throughout her body — including to her tailbone, brainstem and left lung — and the prognosis was not good.

“Hearing them say, there’s nothing more we can do,” said Camille’s mother, shaking her head. “They told us to go home and just make memories with her. But we refused. We refused to give up.”

Halimah explained how she learned about Texas Children’s Hospital.

“When they said there was no hope, I went searching for answers on my own,” she said. “I reached out to different people all over the internet. TikTok. Facebook. Different cancer groups. And then I ran across a patient’s story at Texas Children’s. It was a young boy, about Camille’s age, who had a similar diagnosis. And Dr. Aldave, an expert in treating chordoma, he saved this boy’s life. So I shared the story with Camille’s doctors in Phoenix and they contacted Dr. Aldave.”

Michael’s story video below:

Dr. Guillermo Aldave, Director of Neurosurgery Oncology and Co-Director of the Skull Base Program at Texas Children’s, is a national expert in maximizing the safe treatment of pediatric brain tumors and skull base tumors and improving patients’ clinical outcomes and quality of life.

Michael, who is now cancer-free, is the patient of Dr. Aldave whose story had inspired Halimah. “It’s very emotional,” said Michael’s father in the article Halimah found online. “Dr. Aldave got us on the phone. And just the warmth from this man, the feeling you have just speaking with him, it was incredible. He basically said, ‘Bring your son to me and I’ll help him. I can make him better.’”

“He was willing to do the same for our daughter,” said Halimah. “Camille’s doctors in Phoenix reached out to Texas Children’s and came back to us with the good news that Dr. Aldave had agreed to take her case.”

The difference is life-changing

“Camille’s mom found a story of a patient I treated a few years ago,” said Dr. Aldave. “That story had a happy ending, and her oncology group recommended that Camille come to Texas Children’s to be treated for this tumor. To treat the primary tumor, to remove it completely, as we did for Camille, is the key to providing the best possible outcome,” said Dr. Aldave. “It’s rare, and very complex. That’s why going to a place like Texas Children’s, which has the expertise and experience to help, is absolutely critical to making sure patients are given the best chance at a positive outcome.”

The Skull Base Program at Texas Children’s was the first pediatric program in the country to receive recognition as a Multidisciplinary Team of Distinction from the North American Skull Base Society. Texas Children’s brings together doctors, surgeons and providers from a wide range of specialties, combining their expertise to offer patients the most comprehensive diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. The multidisciplinary team includes specialists in neurosurgery, otolaryngology, oncology, ophthalmology, endocrinology, plastic reconstructive surgery, neuroradiology, interventional radiology and more. Genetic counselors, social workers, child life specialists, therapists and psychologists also support families throughout the course of treatment.

The treatment

Camille’s treatment started in Phoenix. “First, they put her on a high dose of chemo,” said Halimah. “That pretty much took care of the tumors in her body since her cancer had spread. Then she did a five-day radiation. And then, just by her brain stem, was the last tumor, which was very risky. The other surgeons were uncomfortable doing the surgery. But Dr. Aldave agreed.”

After packing up the car, Camille’s family drove 18 hours to bring Camille to Texas Children’s Hospital. They drove through Arizona and New Mexico, following I-10 south past Las Cruces and then west for more than 700 miles across the state of Texas, stopping only for food and gas and to stretch their legs.

“It’s a lot to watch your baby go through,” she added. “Watching her be sick from chemo, watching her suffer pain. It’s rough. But we had to be strong for her. Strong with her. And just keep positive. And looking at her now, I feel more at ease, I can breathe, I can rest,” she said. “I’m comfortable knowing we have more years with her, whatever the future holds. It’s such a blessing.”

She paused with emotion, adding, “Dr. Aldave saved our little girl.”

“We just want to tell all the parents and kids out there, don’t be afraid,” said Edward. “Be strong. You can fight this.”

“Never give up,” agreed Halimah. “Never, ever give up.”

“The doctors here are awesome,” she added, looking at her daughter. “If it wasn't for all these amazing doctors and their teams at Texas Children’s, we might not be sitting here with Camille right now.”

“It’s a life-changing experience,” Edward agreed.

Hope for the future

“I want to thank Texas Children’s for helping children with cancer like my daughter,” said Halimah. “Thank you to all the doctors who took care of my daughter. They're angels to me. Camille is doing well. The surgeries are a little rough, but she gets through them like a champ. She's determined. She said it from the beginning: I'm going to fight this, I'm going to be strong. And she has.”

Learn more about Texas Children’s No. 2 ranked Neurosurgery Program, the Brain Tumor Program, and the Neurosurgical Oncology Program.