When Emilio was just a year and a half old, his parents noticed something wasn’t right. Normally a playful, energetic child, he had become withdrawn—losing interest in school, and bruising too easily. Concerned, they took him to the pediatrician, fearing anemia as the worse-case scenario.

Then the test results came back: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Emilio needed to be hospitalized immediately. 

What followed was a grueling year of chemotherapy, a battle that tested Emilio and his family in every way. But thanks to his treatment, he quickly went into remission. 

Then, on the one-year anniversary of his diagnosis, the unthinkable happened: Emilio relapsed. This time, he needed a bone marrow transplant, a life-saving procedure that required the family to leave their home in New Mexico and relocate to Colorado.

Fortunately, they found Brent’s Place. 

Amid the fear and uncertainty of moving to a new place, Emilio’s family found something they didn’t expect: comfort, stability, and a community that understood. 

From the moment they arrived at Brent’s Place, they were welcomed with open arms, by both the staff and other families facing similar journeys. Stepping into a fully furnished, well-stocked apartment, they could finally exhale. Here, they didn’t have to worry about where they would stay or how they would afford it. Instead, they could focus entirely on caring for Emilio.

For Emilio and his older brother, Ezekiel, their new home was special. They lovingly called it their “big house” and told everyone back home how much they loved being there.

With Emilio in the hospital for the first few months of their stay, his parents were especially grateful to have hot meals delivered to them, removing one more burden from their shoulders 

But their time at Brent’s Place was about more than just accommodations. It was about the connections, the moments of joy and comfort of knowing they weren’t alone.

“One day, when it snowed, we saw a family outside building a snowman,” Emilio’s mom, Victoria, shared. “We bundled up, went outside, and helped them build it. It was so fun to spend time with another family who understood what we were going through. We weren’t alone. That meant the world to us.”

After more than six months at Brent’s Place, Emilio and his family were finally able to return home. While his fight isn’t over just yet, his parents remain hopeful and grateful for the support that carried them through their hardest days. 

Thanks to the support of our community, Brent’s Place can be there for families like Emilio’s, offering not just a place to stay, but a place to heal. Everyone deserves a safe, welcoming home during their toughest battles. Together, we can make that possible. 

Support families like Emilio’s today.