Mega Doctor News
Mega Doctor News
Diagnosed at just 4 months of age, Gerardo Cantu Hernández was one of the first patients at the Vannie E. Cook Children’s Cancer and Hematology Clinic. Gerardo was diagnosed in 2001 with bilateral retinoblastoma, in 2016 with osteosarcoma of the right tibia, and in 2019 with osteosarcoma of the skull. Despite the odds, Gerardo beat cancer each time.
June is recognized as National Cancer Survivors Month.
Gerardo grew up at the Vannie Cook Clinic and witnessed firsthand the impact that nurses and medical staff have on the lives of their patients. He decided to dedicate his life to returning that same level of care he grew up knowing.
“I needed to do this. I didn’t know how I would do it, but I felt I owed Vannie Cook something, and I wasn’t going to let them down because they gave so much to me. The only way I felt I could repay them was by succeeding in accomplishing my goals. That being a graduate of South Texas College, becoming a nurse, and helping the community here in the Rio Grande Valley.” Said Cantu in a video released by the clinic on its social media on Sunday for National Cancer Survivors Day.
On May 10th, 2025, Gerardo graduated from South Texas College with an associate’s degree in nursing. As a long-term survivor, Gerardo continues to receive care at the Vannie Cook Clinic on a yearly basis to monitor for late effects of treatment.
Yadhira Huerta, a social worker for the clinic, wrote, “I have witnessed the incredible resilience that he has demonstrated throughout his entire life. This drive helped his pursuit of obtaining a nursing degree. Gerardo’s personal experience with cancer motivated him to become a nurse so that he could one day provide the same care and compassion he received. He will continue to give back to the community by inspiring others to believe that success is possible, no matter the challenges.”
Watch the “Survivor’s Story” Video Below:
