TAMPA, Fla. — The 1VoiceFoundation has created a program to empower Hispanic families battling pediatric cancer in the Tampa Bay area.

According to the National Library of Medicine, Hispanic families face some barriers like limited access to pediatric intensive care, along with geographical and social barriers. 

What You Need To Know

  • The foundation has now created the ‘Una Voz’ Program to help Hispanic Pediatric cancer patients and families connect
  • Jocelyn Vazquez and her daughter are continuing to navigate the cancer journey and participating in the new program

The new program ‘Una Voz’ helps bring Hispanic families together to connect.

It is a peer support group led by Hispanic Oncology parents with a goal of educating, translating and mentoring others.

“We’re very blessed when they’re in the hospital because they have translators, but once they get out in the community, who are they going to call at night? So our hope is that they call each other,” 1Voice Foundation Executive Director Mary Ann Massolio said.

Jocelyn Vazquez’s daughter, Jailien, is going through her second battle with cancer. She was first diagnosed in August 2022 and went into remission in June 2023. Less than a month later, she was diagnosed again.

“This time she’s done radiation as well, after multiple surgeries, transfusions, things of that sort. We’re getting to the finish line. I think I feel it,” Vazquez said.

She said it hasn’t been easy watching her daughter go through so much pain, but the 1Voice Foundation has helped her navigate this journey.

She also said interacting with other Hispanic families who are going through the same thing has helped her not feel so alone.

The foundation offers 25 programs for pediatric families and welcomes more families to join.

Thanks to a strong support system within the foundation, Vazquez and Jailien are staying positive and are hoping to spend more time sitting around the table enjoying time together.