childhood cancer awareness month hereos
Arlynda Muñoz: Dancing Through the Storm
From the very beginning, Arlynda Muñoz was a vibrant, funny, and energetic little girl who loved to dance to any music that played, twirling and smiling like there was no end to the joy in her heart. At just three years old, she hadn’t started school yet, but she didn’t need a classroom to fill the world with laughter and love. Her classroom was life—and she lived it fully.
Then, the headaches began.
At first, they were just occasional complaints. But soon, vomiting followed, and by two months in, Arlynda began limping, her balance fading. Trusting her instincts, her mother took her to the pediatrician just days before Christmas 2013. That visit led to Loma Linda Hospital, where a CT scan showed a lump of blood. Further tests—an MRI—revealed the devastating truth: a fast-growing tumor on the right side of Arlynda’s brain.
On December 31, 2013, Arlynda had her first brain surgery. Shortly after, the diagnosis came: Anaplastic Ependymoma Grade 4, an aggressive and malignant brain cancer.
Life changed overnight.
From that point on, Arlynda’s journey became a battle filled with unimaginable strength. She endured over 20 brain surgeries—on the right, left, and back of her head. She faced chemotherapy at 3, radiation at 4, and more surgeries year after year. Despite it all, she smiled. She fought. And her spirit, though tested, never gave up.
At age 8, Arlynda began to change. She became quieter, spending more time in bed with her tablet. Home and hospital became one and the same. Physical and occupational therapy helped in small ways, but the toll of cancer and its treatments was relentless. She began experiencing seizures in 2014, and by 2018, they became more frequent, eventually leading to a diagnosis of epilepsy.
Still, Arlynda endured. Her family remained by her side, holding her hand through every surgery, every seizure, and every setback. The emotional toll was immense. Watching their daughter fight for her life, over and over again, was both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring. But they never gave up hope.
Then came November 2024.
Doctors gave Arlynda’s family the news no parent should ever hear: she likely wouldn’t live to see her 15th birthday. She was placed on hospice care. Yet, true to her fighting spirit, Arlynda kept going. In February 2025, she had another brain surgery. And again in April, bringing her total to more than 25 brain surgeries—not counting the tumors treated with laser therapy.
Then, a new diagnosis: Rhabdoid Malignant Tumor—a brutal evolution of her disease.
Today, Arlynda lives with less than a year to live, but her story is one of unshakable resilience, profound courage, and unwavering faith. Her mother holds to hope, knowing that God has the final word, and that Arlynda’s life, no matter how long or short, has meaning and purpose beyond measure.
