Move Back
![quinceanera_22]()
Maria Jose Martinez, who has leukemia, cries during a Mass celebrating her 15th birthday in her home town Las Cuchillas in Matagalpa department, Nicaragua, during her temporary discharge from La Mascota Children's Hospital. Martinez is in her second cycle of chemotherapy and has had three operations since she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six months ago.![quinceanera_6]()
Maria Jose Martinez, tries on the dress she will wear at her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday party, in her hospital room at La Mascota Children's Hospital in Managua, Nicaragua. The Association of Parents of Children with Leukemia and Cancer organized a mass Quinceanera for all the female patients at La Mascota Children's Hospital who turn 15-years-old in 2011. Martinez is in her second cycle of chemotherapy and has had three operations since she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six months ago.![quinceanera_9]()
Maria tries on the dress she will wear at her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday party, in her hospital room at La Mascota Children's Hospital in Managua, Nicaragua. The Association of Parents of Children with Leukemia and Cancer organized a mass Quinceañera for all the female patients at La Mascota Children's Hospital who turn 15-years-old in 2011. Martinez is in her second cycle of chemotherapy and has had three operations since she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six months ago.![quinceanera_10]()
Medicine drip is secured to the hand of leukemia patient Maria Jose Martinez as she tries on the dress she will wear to her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday party, in her hospital room at La Mascota Children's Hospital in Managua, Nicaragua. The Association of Parents of Children with Leukemia and Cancer organized a mass Quinceañera for all the female patients at La Mascota Children's Hospital who turn 15-years-old in 2011. Martinez is in her second cycle of chemotherapy and has had three operations since she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six months ago.![quinceanera_7]()
Martinez, embraces her twin sister Maria Mercedes as she lies on her bed in her hospital room at La Mascota Children's Hospital in Managua, Nicaragua. Martinez is in her second cycle of chemotherapy and has had three operations since she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six months ago.![quinceanera_11]()
Leukemia patient Maria Jose Martinez, 14, wearing a wig, gets her make-up done in preparation for her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday celebration, at a hotel in Managua, Nicaragua. The Association of Parents of Children with Leukemia and Cancer organized a mass Quinceañera for all the female patients at La Mascota Children's Hospital who turn 15-years-old in 2011. Martinez is in her second cycle of chemotherapy and has had three operations since she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six months ago.![quinceanera_14]()
Maria Jose Martinez is pushed in a wheelchair by her father Juan Jose through a line of cadets from Nicaragua's Military Academy during her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday celebration, top, and later through the oncology area of La Mascota Children's Hospital as she returns to her room after the party in Managua, Nicaragua. The Association of Parents of Children with Leukemia and Cancer organized a mass Quinceañera for all the female patients at La Mascota Children's Hospital who turn 15-years-old in 2011.![quinceanera_5]()
Maria Jose, dances with a military cadet during a mass Quinceañera, or 15th birthday celebration, as her father, left, looks on at a hotel in Managua, Nicaragua. The Association of Parents of Children with Leukemia and Cancer organized a mass Quinceañera for all the female patients at La Mascota Children's Hospital who turn 15-years-old in 2011. Martinez is in her second cycle of chemotherapy and has had three operations since she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six months ago.![quinceanera_12]()
Maria Jose Martinez, 14, looks at herself in the mirror as she sits with other young patients of La Mascota Children's Hospital as they prepare to celebrate their Quinceañera, or 15th birthday celebration, at a hotel in Managua, Nicaragua. The Association of Parents of Children with Leukemia and Cancer organized a mass.![quinceanera_13]()
Martinez carries her cake as her father pushes her in a wheelchair at the end of a mass Quinceañera, or 15th birthday celebration, held for patients of La Mascota Children's Hospital at a hotel in Managua, Nicaragua. The Association of Parents of Children with Leukemia and Cancer organized a mass Quinceañera for all the female patients at La Mascota Children's Hospital who turn 15-years-old in 2011. Martinez is in her second cycle of chemotherapy and has had three operations since she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six months ago.![15_cancer_nicaragua]()
Maria Jose Martinez, 14, sitting left, poses for a group portrait with other patients from La Mascota Children's Hospital as they celebrate their Quinceañera, or 15th birthday, at a hotel in Managua, Nicaragua.![quinceanera_15]()
Petrona Guido holds up a wig over her daughter Maria Jose, who has leukemia, before she was temporarily discharged from La Mascota Children's Hospital in order celebrate her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday, in her home town, in Managua.![quinceanera_17]()
Maria Jose Martinez travels home to La Cuchilla village with her mother Petrona Guido after being temporarily discharged from La Mascota Children's Hospital in order celebrate her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday, in her home town, in Managua,![quinceanera_16]()
Maria Jose Martinez, reflected in the car's side view mirror, smiles as she sees her relatives and neighbors awaiting her arrival in La Cuchilla village during her temporary discharge from La Mascota Children's Hospital in order to celebrate her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday, at home in Matagalpa department, Nicaragua.![quinceanera_18]()
Family and neighbors of Maria Jose Martinez, who has leukemia, play music as they welcome her home in La Cuchilla village in Matagalpa department.![quinceanera_19]()
Maria Jose Martinez, who has leukemia, is carried in a chair by family members as she arrives home in La Cuchilla village during a temporary discharge from La Mascota Children's Hospital in order to celebrate her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday, at home.![quinceanera_4]()
Maria watches her sisters try on ball dresses to be worn during her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday party, in La Cuchilla village in Matagalpa department, Nicaragua,![quinceanera_3]()
Maria Jose Martinez is helped by her sisters Daysi, right, and Etelvina at their home in La Cuchilla village in Matagalpa department, Nicaragua, during her temporary discharge from La Mascota Children's Hospital in order to celebrate her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday, at home.![quinceanera_20]()
Maria Jose Martinez, rests in a hammock in her home before celebrating her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday.![quinceanera_21]()
Maria Jose Martinez left, and her twin sister Maria Mercedes get ready for a Mass celebrating their 15th birthday in Las Cuchillas village in Matagalpa department, Nicaragua.![quinceanera_23]()
Maria Jose Martinez, center, cries due to pain as family members help her walk after a Mass celebrating her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday.![quinceanera_24]()
Maria Jose Martinez, center, laughs as she says goodbye to her uncle Jose Angel Martinez, left, as her mother Petrona Guido, right, looks on as they travel back to La Mascota Children's Hospital where Maria will receive more chemotherapy treatments, in San Dionisio, Matagalpa department.![quinceanera_8]()
Patient Maria Jose Martinez, 15, sits in Dr. Mercedes Arguello's office in the oncology area of La Mascota Children's Hospital in Managua, Nicaragua.![quinceanera_26]()
Maria Jose Martinez, is held by her mother Petrona Guido as Dr. Mercedes Arguello applies Intrathecal Chemotherapy in the oncology department at La Mascota Children's Hospital in Managua, Nicaragua.![quinceanera_25]()
Maria Jose Martinez, who has leukemia, waits with her mother Petrona Guido for an appointment in the oncology area at La Mascota Children's Hospital in Managua, Nicaragua, after returning from her Quinceañera, or 15th birthday celebration, in her home town.Quinceañera Party Despite Cancer
Despite cancer, Maria Jose Martinez, along with some two dozen other girls, celebrated their birthdays.
Move Forward
- Quinceañera Party Despite Cancer
