Wilms Tumor at Age 4: One Family's Journey Through Childhood Kidney Cancer

On May 5, 2025, Nick and Amanda Perez's world was turned upside down.

When their daughter, Amelia, who was 4 years old at the time, woke up at 2 a.m. complaining of a stomachache, they never imagined what would transpire over the next 24 hours.

They took her to the CHRISTUS Children's Emergency Center in Westover Hills, where physicians identified a hematoma, or bruise, on her right kidney. Initially, they believed it might have resulted from trauma, but because they wanted a specialized pediatric evaluation, Amelia was transferred to CHRISTUS Children's.

Recognizing the Signs of Wilms Tumor

It was there that doctors discovered the source of Amelia's pain: Wilms tumor, the most common type of kidney cancer in children.

Also known as nephroblastoma, Wilms tumor develops when immature kidney cells grow abnormally and form a tumor in one or both kidneys. Although rare, Wilms tumor is highly curable, especially when diagnosed early and cared for by an experienced pediatric cancer team.

"It was definitely a whirlwind of events and something we didn't see coming," said Nick.

Amanda wondered whether Amelia would survive and how they would handle such an overwhelming diagnosis.

"Just a few days earlier, I discovered that I was pregnant, which added to our anxiety and worries," she said.

It was a lot to wrap their heads around all at once, not to mention finding the right words to help their 4-year-old understand cancer and what was happening to her body.

Helping a Child Understand Cancer

That's when the Child Life Services team at CHRISTUS Children's stepped in.

Amelia's Child Life Specialist, Becky Smith, helped explain Amelia's diagnosis and upcoming surgery in age-appropriate terms that a 4-year-old could understand. Nick and Amanda vividly remember Becky's patience and ability to ease their daughter's fears.

"Becky was a real lifesaver," Nick said.

For families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis, child life specialists play an important role in reducing fear and anxiety by helping children understand medical procedures through age-appropriate education, play and emotional support.

Expert Wilms Tumor Treatment at CHRISTUS Children's

On May 8, Amelia underwent surgery to remove her right kidney.

"For a child Amelia's age, the goal is not only to remove the tumor safely but to help the family understand each step of what is happening," said Dr. Charlene Dekonenko, a pediatric general surgeon at CHRISTUS Children's. "She did remarkably well, and our team was encouraged by how strong she was throughout the process."

Dr. Adam Wolfe, a pediatric hematology-oncology specialist at CHRISTUS Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Clinic, promised Nick and Amanda that he would take care of their daughter. He took time to answer every question and helped them understand the treatment plan. He also reassured them that they had done nothing wrong.

"Wilms tumor typically occurs sporadically in young children," said Dr. Wolfe. "There is nothing parents did to cause it, and there is nothing they could have done to prevent it. Our goal is to provide every child with the most effective treatment possible while supporting the entire family throughout their journey."

At CHRISTUS Children's, caring for children with Wilms tumor requires a multidisciplinary team that includes pediatric surgeons, pediatric oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses, child life specialists and many others working together to create an individualized treatment plan for every child.

The encouraging news is that Wilms tumor has excellent outcomes for many children, particularly when it's diagnosed early and treated by an experienced pediatric cancer team.

Following surgery, Amelia received eight months of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, returning to CHRISTUS Children's almost weekly for treatment.

Facing Cancer with Courage

For the most part, Amelia handled treatment remarkably well.

She didn't let cancer define her. She remained upbeat, continued smiling and never lost her special spark, even during July, when she spent much of the month in what she affectionately called her "hospital house."

"It was a dark month for us, but the staff at CHRISTUS Children's made it a fun time for Amelia, and she went through it like a champ," Amanda said.

Celebrating Life After Treatment: A New Chapter

January 16, 2026, marked the end of Amelia's treatment and the opportunity to ring the bell, a meaningful milestone celebrated by many pediatric cancer patients.

It was a day filled with emotion, representing the end of one chapter and the beginning of another for the Perez family.

Today, Amelia is thriving.

Her hair has grown back, and she loves spending time outside and swimming whenever she can. She has also embraced her newest role as a big sister, helping care for her baby brother, Aristotle.

Reflecting on everything Amelia experienced, Nick and Amanda believe the journey helped her mature beyond her years. She's back in school, making new friends and enjoying childhood again.

She continues to have follow-up scans and ultrasounds every three months, and her heart function is monitored because some chemotherapy medications used to treat Wilms tumor can affect the heart over time.

Long-term follow-up is an important part of pediatric cancer care, allowing the care team to monitor for recurrence, manage any late effects of treatment and help children continue to thrive as they grow.

Nick and Amanda believe Amelia's cancer journey strengthened their family and brought them closer together. It also taught them they could endure more than they ever imagined.

Advice for Families Facing Childhood Cancer

If they could offer advice to other parents facing a similar diagnosis, Nick and Amanda encourage them to take care of themselves and each other, lean on their support system and focus on one day at a time.

For the Perez family, Amelia's diagnosis changed their lives in ways they never imagined. But the journey also revealed their daughter's incredible strength, the compassion of her care team and the hope that comes from expert pediatric cancer care.

Comprehensive Pediatric Cancer Care at CHRISTUS Children's

CHRISTUS Children's provides comprehensive care for children with Wilms tumor and other pediatric cancers through a multidisciplinary team of pediatric specialists dedicated to delivering advanced treatment, compassionate support and long-term follow-up.

As a member of the Children's Oncology Group, a national collaborative focused on advancing pediatric cancer research and treatment, CHRISTUS Children's contributes to efforts to improve outcomes and advance cures for children with cancer.

From diagnosis through survivorship, families receive coordinated care tailored to each child's unique needs.