Teenager who was not expected to live is set to graduate

A teenager who was not expected to reach her first birthday after being born with a rare facial tumor that leaves her unable to speak or eat is set to graduate from college next year.

Jacqueline Rodriguez, 16, from California, suffers from lymphatic malformations, an extremely rare condition that forms a large tumor in her cheeks and tongue.

Despite having to communicate via an iPad and eat through a formula feeding tube, she hopes to  study nursing at Stanford University, and spends her spare time playing tennis and the guitar.

Jacqueline has also overcome bullying, and credits her close friends and family for helping her to stay positive.

She said: ‘My parents help me by trying to make my life as normal as possible.

‘The future is bright.’

 

Jacqueline Rodriguez, who was not expected to reach her first birthday after being born with a rare facial tumor, is set to graduate from college and hopes to study nursing at Stanford

Jacqueline suffers from lymphatic malformations, which leave her unable to speak or eat

Jacqueline suffers from lymphatic malformations, which leave her unable to speak or eat

She credits her family (pictured) for helping her to stay positive and live a normal life

She credits her family (pictured) for helping her to stay positive and live a normal life

WHAT ARE LYMPHATIC MALFORMATIONS? 

A lymphatic malformation is a mass in the head or neck that results from the abnormal formation of lymphatic vessels, which carry fluids to the lymph nodes.

They are present from birth and occur when vessels become blocked or enlarge during a woman’s pregnancy.

Lymphatic malformations may not be noticeable until they become infected and enlarge. This may affect a sufferer’s breathing and swallowing. 

Treatment may include antibiotics to cure infections, draining the lesion or surgery to remove the growth.

Some lymphatic malformations regrow within a year of surgery. This is more common in those that are large and complicated.

Source: Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford

‘She is the most amazing person I’ve ever known’ 

Jacqueline said: ‘I want to be a nurse because I grew up in a hospital helping my nurses take care of others. The future is bright.’

Despite her difficulties communicating, the teenager’s proud parents have no doubt she will succeed.

Jacqueline’s father Paul Rodriguez, 60, said: ‘I feel very comfortable that she will grow up to be successful in anything she does.

‘She is the most amazing person I’ve ever known. To come across so many obstacles and still have confidence and perseverance – we’re really proud.

‘That little girl just wants to live. Every day she wakes up with a smile on her face and it just encourages you.

‘She has been the best thing that happened to us.

‘She has dreams for the future and she is looking forward to it.’ 

Jacqueline's condition means she is forced to get her food via a formula tube 

Jacqueline’s condition means she is forced to get her food via a formula tube 

As she is unable to speak, Jacqueline communicates with others via an iPad

As she is unable to speak, Jacqueline communicates with others via an iPad

This has helped her to form close friendships, but the teenager has also endured bullying

This has helped her to form close friendships, but the teenager has also endured bullying

Jacqueline regularly faces cruel comments and stares from strangers due to her appearance

Jacqueline regularly faces cruel comments and stares from strangers due to her appearance

‘She has so many friends and they all love her’

Although Jacqueline is positive about her future, the teenager has endured cruel comments and stares all her life.

She said: ‘People normally stare at me and point a lot. People do say mean things.

‘It makes me feel sad because they don’t know me enough to say mean things. I’m a normal human being.’

Yet, Jacqueline’s love of sports, as well as her close friends and family, have helped her to overcome such nasty taunts. 

She said: ‘Tennis helps with my confidence by knowing that I am strong enough to play a sport.’ 

Jacqueline’s sister Anna Belle, 19, added: ‘I can’t believe Jacky is graduating school soon. Good for her!

‘I’m so proud of her with the tennis team and it just makes me happy because she has made so many new friends and they all love her.

‘Jacky is a good example of what everyone should be like. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks and if she sees something she wants to do, you can’t tell her no.

‘She’ll always try her best to accomplish it. She’s very inspiring.’  

Despite her condition, Jacqueline attends school and is optimistic about her future career

Despite her condition, Jacqueline attends school and is optimistic about her future career

She wishes to be a nurse as she was often in hospital growing up and saw the work they did

She wishes to be a nurse as she was often in hospital growing up and saw the work they did

Jacqueline says when she was younger she would assist nurses in caring for other patients

Jacqueline says when she was younger she would assist nurses in caring for other patients

Her parents believe she will succeed in any profession she puts her mind to

Her parents believe she will succeed in any profession she puts her mind to

‘She’s overcome a lot’

Doctors have tried to remove some of Jacqueline’s tumor throughout her life, but the mass always grows back.

Without a cure, specialists are looking into a simpler approach to control the growth of Jacqueline’s tumor cells without causing her severe discomfort.

Her mother Evelyn Belen, 52, said: ‘With the medications that she is on, it seems to have stopped the growth and actually softened her tumour.

‘She is now more capable of facial expressions and seeing because at one point her tumour was encroaching on her right eye.

‘She’s been able to overcome a lot of that and now her tumour has been relaxed a little, she’s been able to feel better.’ 

Jacqueline has made friends through tennis, which she says boosts her confidence 

Jacqueline has made friends through tennis, which she says boosts her confidence 

The teenager also has guitar lessons (pictured with friends after playing tennis)

The teenager also has guitar lessons (pictured with friends after playing tennis)

Jacqueline's father Paul, 60, (pictured with her as a newborn) describes her as 'amazing'

Jacqueline’s father Paul, 60, (pictured with her as a newborn) describes her as ‘amazing’

He adds she is the 'best thing that ever happened' despite doctors suggesting a termination

He adds she is the ‘best thing that ever happened’ despite doctors suggesting a termination

Her condition was present at birth and forms when lymph vessels become blocked

Her condition was present at birth and forms when lymph vessels become blocked

Jacqueline's sister Anna Belle, 19, describes her as 'inspiring' and an example to how everybody else some be (pictures show Jacqueline's childhood)

Jacqueline’s sister Anna Belle, 19, describes her as ‘inspiring’ and an example to how everybody else some be (pictures show Jacqueline’s childhood)

Her sister adds Jacqueline does not care what others think and tries hard at everything 

Her sister adds Jacqueline does not care what others think and tries hard at everything 

‘Her self-esteem has blossomed’    

When Ms Belen was pregnant, doctors told her that her daughter’s quality of life would be very poor and she could terminate the pregnancy if she wished.

Yet Ms Belen and Mr Rodriguez decided to continue with the pregnancy.

Ms Belen said: ‘When I was still pregnant with Jacqueline, doctors were telling us our daughter might not get to see her first birthday.

‘But now she is achieving so much and her self-esteem has truly blossomed – it’s incredible.

‘And I just didn’t think we’d be here at this point. I’m so grateful.’

Jacqueline added: ‘My parents help me by trying to make my life as normal as possible.’ 



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