12-Year-Old Boy Beats the Odds, Survives Rare Cancer with Help from UHealth Jackson Children’s

By: Krysten Brenlla

Diego Gonzalez Alvarez, 12, spent every free moment on the soccer field. So, when his leg started hurting in August 2024, his parents thought it was a sports injury. But when the pain got worse, they knew something was wrong.

“Diego’s pain persisted even after physical therapy. Not even pain medication helped,” Javier Gonzalez, Diego’s father, said. “We’re from Puerto Rico, and his pediatricians here thought it was just growing pains. But every night, he was crying out in pain. We knew something more serious was going on with our son.”

By November 2024, Diego had an MRI scan done. The family got a second opinion from a different pediatrician, who found that Diego had a tumor in his pelvis. The doctor confirmed the family’s worst fear: Diego had a rare and aggressive form of cancer called Ewing sarcoma, which mostly develops in bones or surrounding soft tissues.

“When they told me I had cancer, I just kept crying,” Diego said. “I thought I was going to die. I thought that cancer was the worst thing in the world.”

Because the resources needed for Diego’s treatment were unavailable in Puerto Rico, the family was referred to UHealth Jackson Children’s, where they met a multidisciplinary team led by Francis John Hornicek, Jr., MD, chief of orthopedics at Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System , and Aditi Dhir, MD, a pediatric oncologist at UHealth Jackson Children’s.

“I did everything I could to get us to Miami,” Javier said. “I put a pause on work and my own health – all I could focus on was finding the best treatment options for my son.”

Upon arrival to Holtz Children’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial Medical Center, the team worked quickly to develop a treatment plan for Diego. Diego underwent four months of chemotherapy under Dr. Dhir’s care to stop the progression of the Ewing sarcoma before surgery became possible.

“Throughout Diego’s treatment, Dr. Dhir and the entire team were exceptional,” Javier said. “She was always attentive to Diego’s side effects and challenges. Knowing she was there every step of the way gave our family peace of mind.”

“Each chemotherapy treatment was one step closer to the finale,” Diego said.

Because of the tumor’s location in Diego’s pelvis, treatment was difficult.

“Diego’s case was particularly challenging. Because he’s a child, we didn’t want to disrupt the growth around his hip joint or lumbar spine,” Dr. Hornicek said. “Our goal was not only to remove the cancer, but preserve his mobility, function, and quality of life.”

In April 2025, Dr. Hornicek and his team surgically removed the tumor and reconstructed Diego’s pelvis using donor bones, rods, and specialized hardware, allowing him to be active and able to move around.

“The best thing that could’ve happened to us was finding Dr. Hornicek and Dr. Dhir because they gave Diego a chance to live a normal life,” Javier said. “We picked the best team and hospital.”

After surgery, Diego spent two months rebuilding his strength with Kyle Zreibe, a physical therapist at Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorial.

Along the way, the two formed a close bond.

“I always try to incorporate activities my patients enjoy into therapy, and Diego loves Fortnite, so during our first session, I worked some Fortnite dances into his exercises to get him moving,” Zreibe said. “My goal was to help him build confidence in his body again and make movement feel natural. Watching him regain mobility and building a friendship along the way made every milestone meaningful.”

Diego also worked with Talia Mor, a child life specialist at Holtz Children’s, and Mahi, Holtz Children’s facility therapy dog, who helped encourage movement through play and rehabilitation activities, like grooming and walking.

After completing an additional four months of chemotherapy, Diego reached a major milestone.

In November 2025, he was declared cancer-free.

“When I rang the bell, it was one of the best days of my life,” Diego said. “The nurses and doctors really made this possible for me.”

For Diego’s family and his care team, the moment represented a year of sacrifice, resilience, and perseverance.

“Seeing Diego cancer-free and back to living a normal life is incredibly rewarding,” Dr. Hornicek said. “Treating Ewing sarcoma, particularly in a complex location like the pelvis, requires a highly coordinated multidisciplinary team and approach. every member of Diego’s team played an important role in his recovery.”

Today, Diego is back home in Puerto Rico. He’s regained most of his mobility, enjoys golf and swimming, and recently celebrated another milestone: graduating from elementary school alongside his classmates and friends.

“The care we received at UHealth Jackson Children’s, we wouldn’t have received anywhere else,” Javier said. “We’re forever grateful. They saved Diego’s life.”

“To any kid that’s going through cancer and chemotherapy, just keep fighting, and listen to your doctors. You’re stronger than you think,” Diego said. “And to my doctors and nurses – thank you for everything you do and for all the lives you save.”