Urgently: Dominican teenager needs humanitarian visa to treat aggressive leukemia
The health of Berlín Cristina de León Castro, a teenager of just 14 years old, is at a critical point. After being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the young girl immediately requires a humanitarian visa that allows her to travel to the United States to receive specialized treatment, including a bone marrow transplant, a procedure that represents her greatest hope for life.
Berlín’s journey has been extremely difficult. Since the beginning of her battle against the disease, she has undergone an intense medical protocol that includes nearly 78 chemotherapy sessions. Although she initially showed a favorable response, specialists recently confirmed an early and aggressive relapse.
A complex medical process
The minor’s clinical history began on March 17, 2026, after presenting alarming symptoms such as bone pain, pallor, and bruising. After being admitted to the General Hospital of the Plaza de la Salud, studies confirmed the diagnosis of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
- May 2026: Initial studies showed a positive response to the treatment, allowing for progress into the chemotherapy phases.
- August 2026: The onset of intense lower back pain necessitated a new bone marrow aspiration.
- Current diagnosis: The results revealed an involvement of over 95%, confirming the relapse of the disease.
Due to the aggressiveness of this relapse, conventional chemotherapy no longer offers an adequate possibility of a cure. It is imperative to proceed with an allogeneic bone marrow transplant at a specialized international center.
Call for solidarity
Since Berlin does not have a compatible sibling for the donation, the search for an unrelated donor is a process that must be managed outside the country. For this reason, his family is making an urgent appeal to the Dominican authorities to expedite the processing of his humanitarian visa.
Likewise, we request the support of foundations, business owners, and all citizens to cover the logistical and medical costs that this transfer entails. Every contribution is essential for this young woman to access the necessary care to overcome this health challenge.
What is acute lymphoblastic leukemia?
ALL is a type of cancer that affects lymphoblasts, immature cells that, under normal conditions, would transform into white blood cells. In this condition, cancer cells multiply uncontrollably, displacing healthy blood cells and causing symptoms such as extreme fatigue, fever, recurrent infections, and weight loss. It is the most frequent leukemia variant in the pediatric population, whose recovery depends, in many cases, on advanced therapies such as bone marrow transplantation.
