Carolina and Javier Valenzuela's Cancer Fund

Hi Neighbors:

Our wonderful tennis coach Javier Valenzuela and his wife Carolina, here in The Woodlands, have just learned that Carolina has been diagnosed with Stage 3 invasive breast cancer and she faces two years of aggressive treatment that will include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and more chemo, followed by reconstructive surgery. This is a difficult enough battle on its own, but the out-of-pocket medical expenses will be heavy on Javier and Carolina, and we would like to ease the financial stress on them so that they can focus on the medical ordeal before them.

As some of us know, Javier was a former medical researcher in immunology studying cancer to support the development of new treatments to benefit people everywhere. When the years of constant travel, long hours and time away from family finally let him know that he needed to make a change, he returned to another passion, tennis, and has brought his formidable skills to it.

Those of us who have had the good fortune to have our kids train and learn from Javier, deeply appreciate the way he holds them accountable for learning their skills precisely and that they show maturity, focus and good sportsmanship when they play and run their competitive drills. As the kids have rotated between his different classes, they have built new friendships and developed a wonderful camaraderie with each other -- all helped by the great atmosphere Javier creates. He is a special man, a special coach and a special person. We are so lucky to have him in our community.

As Javier and Carolina embark on this long cancer treatment, their out-of-pocket insurance expenses will be roughly $17,000 over the next two years, and then they will have additional costs for travel for surgery and special nutritional supplements to help Carolina stay strong as she deals with the debilitating effects of chemo and radiation therapy. We know how much they appreciate any support we can provide them as they begin to meet the challenges before them. (All donations will go directly to Javier and Carolina.) Thank you!

Elizabeth Whitehead