Jenea Berrios
Jacksonville girl battles severe form of leukemia
In April 2006, when Jenea Berrios was eight years old, she started complaining of pain in her joints and a loss of appetite. Her mother took her to the doctor and was told the discomfort her daughter was experiencing was only growing pains.
Two weeks following the appointment, Jenea's father found her on the bedroom floor foaming from the mouth. Thinking she was having a seizure, her parents took her to the nearest fire station. From there, firefighters transported Jenea to Shands Jacksonville.
 Jackie and Jenea Berrios visit Phyllis Hendry, MD, and Stacey Collins, RN, in the Shands Jacksonville Pediatric Emergency Department Jenea was examined by Phyllis Hendry, M.D., a University of Florida associate professor and assistant chair for research in the Department of Emergency Medicine. Hendry is a pediatric emergency specialist at the Shands Jacksonville Pediatric Emergency Department.
"I looked at her pale face and knew that she was a very sick little girl," said Hendry. "When we drew her blood it looked like pale red Kool-Aid."
Hendry's initial suspicion was that Jenea had some type of cancer or blood disorder. Tests showed that Jenea's blood hemoglobin level was at an extreme low level of 1.1 g/dL, compared to a normal hemoglobin range of 10 to 14 g/dL for children her age.
"I have never seen a level this low in anyone," added Hendry.
While at Shands Jacksonville, Jenea's body was in shock and she lost her eyesight. Jenea was cared for by a team of 10 physicians, nurses and technicians who worked to stabilize her as she was put on a ventilator and given blood transfusions.
"I did not leave her bedside for two straight hours," said Hendry. "My colleagues from the main ED and the Trauma Center managed the rest of the pediatric patients so that I could focus on Jenea."
A diagnosis is made
Once she was stabilized, further testing revealed that Jenea had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, also called ALL. She received additional treatment at Wolfson Children's Hospital.
ALL is cancer of the white blood cells and is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in children. White blood cells multiply at an accelerated rate and may collect in the brain or spinal cord, causing the body to shut down. Symptoms of ALL include achy bones and joints, chronic fatigue and easy bleeding or bruising. One in 29,000 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with this rare disease each year.
Jenea's journey to recovery hasn't been easy. Although her cancer has been in remission since August 2006, she continues to be in and out of the hospital for chemotherapy treatments. Jenea finished her last treatment on Thursday, Dec. 4.
Last June, Jenea received star treatment during Morton's Medicine and Miracles annual event benefiting Children's Miracle Network. More than 20 celebrity waiters, including players from the Jacksonville Jaguars, entertained and served those attending. During the event Jenea was named the miracle child and she shared her story. A total of $50,000 was raised.
Just like any other sixth-grade girl
Today, Jenea is like any other girl her age. Her curly, black locks have grown back, her vision has been restored and her smile brightens up a room.
"You could never tell that she is fighting cancer," said Jenea's mother, Jackie. "She is such a very positive child."
As a sixth-grade student at LaVilla School of the Arts, Jenea enjoys reading and painting. She also continues to earn high marks in various subject areas. When Jenea grows up, she hopes to become either an actress or a physician who specializes in oncology.
Jackie said she is forever grateful for the advanced technology and highly trained UF physicians at Shands Jacksonville who stabilized her daughter and saved her life.
"Thank God Dr. Hendry was there," said Jackie. "I could tell within a few seconds of being in her presence that she knew what was going on. Everyone there was great. Their main focus was Jenea, and I couldn't ask for anything else."
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