Anaya   ANAYA   Last spring as her kindergarten year was coming to an end; Anaya came down with a fever and was sent to the school nurse. What her parents initially thought was a common cold turned into much more for Anaya and her family. She was diagnosed with leukemia.   The oldest of three children, seven-year-old Anaya is very creative. Her illness makes her tire easily, but she is still able to engage in some of her favorite activities: art work, drawing and coloring. For such a young child, she is very bright. She enjoys school and loves to play Monopoly.   Anaya and her family receive one-on-one support from a Tu Nidito social worker. The social worker helps each family member through the difficulty and stress of diagnosis, changes in prognosis and course of treatment. As Anaya gets ready to go back to school this fall, her social worker is helping her adjust by making a special presentation to the class, explaining in kid-friendly terms what is happening with Anaya. Together, Tu Nidito and the school will make sure Anaya successfully transitions back into school as she prepares for a successful first grade year.   Anaya and her family also attend group support at Tu Nidito, giving them an opportunity to meet other families who are going through the same things they are. Here at Tu Nidito, they are able to share their hopes and fears, laughter and tears with people who truly understand.   Aron   ARON   When you first meet Aron you can’t help but fall in love with his endearing smile. An active and outgoing four-year-old boy, he was just six months old, when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. At the age of nine months he had surgery to remove part of the tumor. Throughout his young life, Aron has been through many rounds of chemotherapy. He and his mom have spent more time in this hospital than at home in an effort to cure the cancer that still invades his brain and spinal cord.   Despite the trials of his young life, Aron is an active and outgoing little boy. He enjoys playing ball, dancing and coloring, although his all-time favorite activity is being read to. He attends pre-school and comes home anxious to share stories about his day. Tu Nidito has been a source of support and encouragement for Aron and his mom. He adores his case manager, Roxana, who reads him books and sings to him during his long and frequent visits in the hospital. Tu Nidito provides both mom and Aron with emotional support during his illness and the resources to navigate this difficult time.   Christina   CHRISTINA   Nine-year-old Christina lost her mother to cancer when she was just 6 years old. Prior to her death, Christina’s mother sought out Tu Nidito for its grief support programs for Christina and her father to utilize upon her eventual death.   Very shortly after her mother’s death in 2005, Christina, an only child, and her father came to Tu Nidito’s grief support program. During the last three years she has made many friends at Tu Nidito. Her support group allows her to express her feelings relating to the loss of her mother through drawings, talking, games and activities.   Christina has flourished into a confident, intelligent young lady. She is a gifted student and talented dancer. Christina’s father is very grateful for the support Tu Nidito has provided during this difficult time in the lives. Alex   ALEX   Cancer was not something Alex gave much thought to before last May. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia was something he had never heard of. These three words changed his life drastically when, at the age of 16, he was diagnosed with this cancer more common in adults between the ages of 40 and 60.   A courageous and outgoing teenager, Alex likes racing BMX bikes. Due to his illness and treatment, these days he is more likely to watch racing on TV than ride. However, Alex believes life is worth living to its fullest and is determined that his cancer will not get in the way. On “good days” under the watchful eye of his mother, he still gets on his bike and rides.   For a teenager like Alex, whose life has been turned upside down by cancer, coming to Tu Nidito and being connected to other kids who are going through the same thing, helps him feel “not quite so different” and gives him the support he needs to make it through this difficult time.