Adolescents and Young Adults Cancer Foundation
San Antonio
AYA Foundation San Antonio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization based in San Antonio, Texas. We are a diverse group of physicians, other medical professionals, students, and public advocates working to empower Adolescents & Young Adults to fight Cancer.
AYAs Speak
In February 2025, after a long work shift I went to the emergency department with fatigue and abdominal discomfort. Within hours, lab results showed abnormalities pointing to T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL), and I was admitted for six weeks of induction therapy. Everything about my life changed in that moment.
Since then, treatment has become my new routine — one that is unpredictable and often overwhelming. Some months bring more procedures, low counts, and higher risks of complications, leading to hospital stays that interrupt any sense of normalcy. Each discharge comes with a mix of relief and anxiety: relief to be home, but anxiety about balancing recovery, follow-ups, and the bills that don’t stop for cancer. Supporting myself and my brother through all of this has been one of the heaviest weights I’ve carried.
The AYA Foundation has helped lift some of that weight. Their support has eased the financial strain that comes with missed work, unexpected costs, and travel for care. More than that, they’ve given me a sense of stability when so much else feels uncertain. Knowing I have this kind of support behind me allows me to focus more on healing and less on survival mode.
I am deeply grateful to the AYA Foundation for not only helping me through this journey, but also for reminding me that I don’t have to face it all alone.
​
-Santos C.
​
My name is Liezle, and I’m 25 years old. I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer when I was 23. My first diagnosis was a terrifying time, and in the beginning, the doctors had to remove my right ovary. But after two years of fighting and hoping for recovery, I received the heartbreaking news that the cancer had returned. I went from stage 1C1 to stage 3. That’s when my oncology team strongly recommended a full hysterectomy due to how rare my type of cancer is. Unfortunately having a full hysterectomy was my only best option and my team wanted to do the procedure immediately.
Throughout all of this, I still had hopes. I desperately wanted to freeze my eggs before undergoing the hysterectomy, but financially, it felt impossible due to my medical bills already piling up. The stress and uncertainty felt like too much to carry.
That’s when I reached out to the Adolescents and Young Adults Cancer Foundation of San Antonio (AYA Cancer Foundation) and shared my story. To my surprise and deep relief, they stepped in and offered to cover the cost of the egg freezing process.
It’s hard to put into words what this meant to me and my husband. In the middle of one of the most difficult times of our lives, they gave us a gift we will always treasure, the chance to preserve our hope for a family. My husband and I felt an incredible weight lifted off our shoulders. Their support didn’t just ease our financial burden; it reminded us that we’re not alone.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the AYA Cancer Foundation.
With endless gratitude,
-Liezle B.
"My name is Kimberly, and after months of struggling with health issues stemming from my cancer diagnosis, & financial burdens, I am so very thankful for the AYA foundation. They are such wonderful people who truly care about patients in this community. Most especially during this time, Dr. Estrada & the team have been such a blessing to me just helping to give me guidance & advice through this most difficult time. They have also helped me with paying for prescriptions, gas for appointments, food & even housing costs during these last few months. If it weren’t for their help & guidance, I don’t know where me & my daughter would be. I cannot thank the AYA Foundation enough for truly being there for me and my family.
-Kimberly
"AYA Foundation has helped me lift a huge weight off my shoulders by providing financial relief. Prior to my diagnosis I was working and attending school which helped pay for my living expenses. However, I had to quit my job and medically withdraw from college spring of my junior year. I’m still unemployed and have had a tough time getting approved for SSI. With all my medical expenses and only my mom’s income, it has been hard for my family to make ends meet. The AYA Foundation was gracious enough to help pay one of the utility bills that we were 2 months behind on. I am very thankful that the AYA Cancer Foundation and people like Dr. Estrada and his team exist. Through them, I was able to receive the help I needed."
- Ana
"My name is Maya Linville, and I'm a 16 year old cancer patient. I was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and fortunately, had enough time before starting treatment to undergo an egg retrieval! Not only that, but due to the AYA, the grant helped alleviate the additional financial stress on my family.
With the diagnosis alone, I already felt sick and extremely anxious. Learning that infertility was a possibility with chemotherapy treatment just added to the building sense of worry, defeat, and fearfulness. I didn't want to lose the choice to have children, especially at such a young age.
Learning that organizations based in San Antonio could offer medical and financial support was extremely relieving. The news gave me hope and helped quench some of the panic. That is why I wanted to write to you and the AYA organization to express my unending gratitude. Thank you so much for the dedication of you and your team!! The AYA's mission towards protecting the fertility of recently diagnosed young adults is exceedingly important.
- Maya
"My name is Sarah
Diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic Leukemia in September 2022, and have been a survivor since 2023. It's been a long road. It took me several doctors and going to another city to find out I had leukemia. And I have been through so much these past 2 years. Chemo and radiation were brutal and harsh on my body. When the nurse removed my PICC line after my first round of chemotherapy, I went into septic shock 2 days later and was in the ICU for 5 days. I thought I was going to die. But I survived that, and did more chemotherapy. I finally got my bone marrow transplant with a 100% match, who was anonymous, but that procedure was harder than receiving chemotherapy. I obtained graph versus host disease rash everywhere, and I was so weak that I had to learn to walk again without falling. I went from being able to walk on my own to using a walker and cane. Now I'm a little bit stronger, but I have also given up a lot of things because of this leukemia journey. I had to stop working with kids, which I loved, because the doctor recommended that it was not good for my immune system. I am very grateful to the AYA Cancer Foundation for helping me with grants. I was able to use it for gas to get to my appointments and fix my car. Without their help, I would not have been able to get transportation back and forth to see my physician."