Jocelynn Jordyn Guerra was born to Jennifer and Aaron Guerra in Fresno, California on June 14, 2007. She was the first of three children. Just a few months before her birthday, Jocelynn was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Ependymoma Brain and Spinal Tumor at Valley Children's Hospital in Fresno.
Jocelynn was admitted into the hospital on Saturday, March 20, 2010 due to being lethargic and unable to walk. After an immediate MRI, Jennifer and Aaron were told by the neurosurgeon that Jocelynn had a tumor that encased her brain stem, was growing up and down her spinal cord and growing throughout her ventricles. The following morning, Jocelynn had developed hydrocephalus which caused her to have a seizure.. She was rushed into surgery to have a shunt put in to help release the fluid pressure built up in her head.
Jocelynn's Story
Aaron and Jennifer wanted to give Jocelynn a fighting chance to grow up and live a normal childhood so they had her transferred to Children’s Hospital Institute & Research of Oakland, where they met with Dr. Peter Sun and Dr. Joseph Torkildson. Dr. Peter Sun had already seen the MRI but had a plan that would help prolong the years that Jocelynn would enjoy with her sister, Zoey and brother, Zachary.
Over the next four years Jocelynn and her family would start their journey on a roller coaster that would be filled with many emotions and life changing experiences. During her first year after diagnosis, Jocelynn would be hospitalized for months at a time, where she would endure different chemotherapy regiments to help shrink the tumor that encased her brainstem. Unfortunately the chemo would not shrink the tumor as much as hoped, so she would have a few surgeries that would lie ahead of her.
After over 100+ hours of surgeries on her brain and spine, radiation, different chemotherapy regiments and gamma knife procedures, in May of 2014, Jocelynn passed away at the age of six. She had impacted so many people in such a short time, that Jocelynn's family and supporters are dedicated to continuing her inspiring legacy through Jocelynn's Gift of Hope.