When Andrea was just two months old, her mother, Alma, began noticing something unusual whenever she held her daughter close to the light. A white glow would appear in Andrea’s eye. She had never noticed that Andrea struggled to see or showed any other signs that something was wrong, but the persistent white reflection concerned her enough to seek medical attention. Trusting that instinct would ultimately save her daughter’s life.
Alma first brought Andrea to a local physician, who believed the abnormality might be a retinal detachment. The family continued searching for answers through several specialists before eventually meeting Dr. Ramirez, who immediately recognized that Andrea had retinoblastoma. Diagnosing retinoblastoma at only two months of age is extremely rare, and because the tumor was so small, it was initially impossible to determine whether the disease affected one eye or both. Fortunately, Alma’s decision to act quickly after noticing the white glow allowed treatment to begin at an extraordinarily early stage.
Andrea underwent three rounds of chemotherapy followed by laser treatment. During the course of her care, Dr. Ramirez carefully examined her remaining eye and discovered an extremely small second tumor that had not been visible during her initial diagnosis. Andrea was ultimately diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma, but because the tumor was detected so early, it responded exceptionally well to chemotherapy. At just three months of age, Andrea underwent enucleation of her more severely affected eye.
Looking back, Dr. Ramirez reflected on one of the remarkable connections that became part of Andrea’s journey. The laser used to treat her remaining eye had been donated by Dr. Linn Murphree, one of the world’s leading retinoblastoma specialists. Years earlier, Dr. Ramirez had trained alongside Dr. Murphree in Los Angeles before returning to Mexico, where he would one day use that very equipment to help save Andrea’s vision. During our conversation, Megan described these extraordinary moments as “glow-incidences”—the coincidental and unexpected people and circumstances that seem to appear exactly when they are needed most.
Although Andrea’s family lived approximately two and a half hours from the hospital, they made the journey for every appointment. The travel was not easy, but a hospital assistance program helped ease some of the burden by providing meals and overnight accommodations whenever Andrea needed to remain near the hospital for treatment.
About six months after surgery, Andrea received her first prosthetic eye. Today, she lovingly refers to it as her “warrior’s scar from a battle won,” a reminder not of what she lost but of everything she overcame. Around the same time, another compassionate individual became part of Andrea’s story. An ocularist dedicated to caring for children created personalized today, prosthetic eyes in Mexico can cost more than $2,000, making her generosity even more meaningful.
Acts of kindness continued to surround the families cared for by Dr. Ramirez. He shared the story of Barbara, a young woman who studied social services and industrial design and wanted to create something special for children facing eye removal. Using her own resources, she designed a plush toy named “Tomas”, inspired by the final five letters of the word retinoblastomas. The stuffed animal featured a removable eye, helping children better understand and accept their own prosthetic eye. Every child who underwent enucleation received a Tomas plush toy, providing comfort during an incredibly difficult time.
As Andrea grew older, her prosthetic eye never became a barrier. She shared that she never experienced discrimination at school and was fortunate to grow up surrounded by acceptance and encouragement. Instead of focusing on what she had lost, she discovered the passions that would shape her future.
Music quickly became one of those passions. Andrea loved to dance from an early age, especially to mariachi music. A cousin eventually introduced her to a mariachi group, and today she proudly serves as the band’s lead singer. She has also pursued her academic goals and is currently studying criminology. Despite traveling nearly an hour and a half each way to attend college, she has only three of her nine semesters remaining before graduation.
Andrea hopes her story reminds other children and families facing retinoblastoma that they are stronger than they realize. She believes that the physical changes caused by treatment do not define who a person is and that a diagnosis should never prevent someone from pursuing their dreams. Her hope is that by sharing her journey, other families will find encouragement during their own, and she looks forward to one day volunteering alongside Dr. Ramirez and KnowTheGlow to support children newly diagnosed with retinoblastoma.
For Alma, the experience reinforced the importance of trusting a parent’s instincts, remaining strong throughout the journey, and leaning on the support of family. Above all, she believes their greatest blessing was finding Dr. Ramirez, whose expertise and compassion changed the course of Andrea’s life.
Today, Andrea’s story serves as a powerful reminder that something as simple as noticing a white glow can lead to an early diagnosis, lifesaving treatment, and a future filled with possibilities. From a mother who trusted her instincts to a young woman pursuing her education, sharing her love of music, and inspiring others through her resilience, Andrea’s journey embodies the hope that KnowTheGlow strives to bring to families around the world.
