Child battles cancer

People shouldn't let 9-year-old Jaelyn Jimenez' shy demeanor fool them because her mother says her strength and creativity comes from within.

The Portales native who has career aspirations of becoming a cook and a veterinarian is far from normal, as her mother describes, because most 9-year-olds aren't battling leukemia.

"God chose me because I'm strong," Jaelyn said.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Amanda Jimenez embraces her daughter Jaelyn, who says her mother has been her biggest supporter while she's battled leukemia.

She was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 5-years-old after her mother, Amanda Jimenez, took her to a hospital, concerned that Jaelyn was having a hard time getting around.

According to Jimenez, a patient advocate for La Casa Family Health Center in Portales, her daughter's blood levels were critically low.

"At that point, if something were to happen to her, she could bleed to death," Jimenez said.

Jaelyn's doctor told her the disease is not genetic and there's no explanation why it strikes some children.

During recovery and after returning to school, Jaelyn relapsed last December, meaning weekly doctor visits to Lubbock since.

"I knew there was a chance it could come back," Amanda Jimenez said.

This time, they're taking a different approach in treatment and Jimenez is optimistic her daughter will make a full recovery.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Jaelyn Jimenez, 9, plays with her newest dog Boy at her grandmother's house Saturday. Jimenez is battling leukemia and hopes one day to become a veterinarian because of her love for dogs.

"The hardest part is having to be gone from home," Jimenez said. "We don't have a very normal life right now."

Jaelyn has to endure chemotherapy at least three weeks out of the month, causing hair loss and nausea.

She longs to be back in school with friends. Her mother feels that will come in due time.

"She misses her friends, I don't want her to be held back," Amanda Jimenez said. "It's not her fault she got sick."

Jimenez says her daughter's strength keeps her going.

"It seems like nothing phases her," Jimenez said, adding she gets nervous every time Jaelyn gets tests. "Jaelyn is stronger than me. She keeps me going, I keep her going."

Recently, 61 Eastern New Mexico University staff members and students donated blood to Jaelyn at a drive that will help lower the costs of her weekly transfusions, according to her mother.

Jaelyn says it makes her happy that people who don't know her were willing to be generous.

Her grandmother Melissa Sena is an ENMU employee.

"My boss wanted to donate his blood for Jaelyn," Sena said. "Then we found out the whole drive could be dedicated to her."

Jaelyn's blood type is O+ and any donations made that didn't match could exchanged for her type, according to Sena.

"They made us all feel good," Sena said. "I want people to know their donations will go back to someone here locally."

As Jaelyn continues to fight, she hopes to soon be strong enough to play soccer and rough house with her cousins.

"I can walk, but not as much as other kids," Jaelyn said.

Her mother's goal is for Jaelyn to make a smooth transition back into normal life and to stay as healthy as possible.

Jimenez is also making an effort to work with Jaelyn's classmates at Valencia Elementary in understanding her condition.

"My mom supports me when I need her," Jaelyn said.