Local Impact, Worldwide Reach
When Angie and her husband, Rodo, welcomed three children — Juani (9), Delfi (5), and Rufo (4) — into their world in Argentina, they never imagined the journey that lay ahead with their youngest son.
When Rufo was just two years old, his parents noticed he was struggling to breathe. What began as a routine pediatric visit quickly turned into every parent’s worst nightmare. An X‑ray led to an emergency hospitalization, followed by surgery to remove the upper lobe of his right lung.
A month later came the two words that changed their lives forever: Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB) — a rare childhood lung cancer most often seen in children under three. Genetic testing also revealed that Rufo had DICER1 syndrome, a condition that predisposes him to developing tumors. Since then, Rufo’s journey has been marked by surgeries, chemotherapy, setbacks, and most importantly renewed hope.
In 2025, Rufo’s cancer returned, requiring another surgery and another round of chemotherapy. Then, in 2026, while still receiving treatment, three new tumors appeared. Rufo underwent one of the most complex surgeries imaginable — the removal of his entire right lung and reconstruction of his vena cava, the major vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. After 20 days in the ICU and 60 days in the hospital, he slowly began walking and eating again. Today, Rufo is receiving chemotherapy for the third time and preparing for radiation therapy.
Through it all, Angie says this experience has taught their family to live one day at a time, to treasure every ordinary moment, and to be deeply grateful.
“Rufo reminds us every day that courage has no age and that hope can exist even in the darkest moments,” she shares.
When Rufo received his DICER1 diagnosis, Angie immediately began searching for answers — and found the PPB/DICER1 Registry, housed at Children’s Minnesota and funded by Pine Tree.
“I sent an email, and the very next day they responded,” Angie recalls. “That message was the beginning of a relationship that has supported us for more than two years. Every time we face a difficult decision, I know I can reach out for guidance, knowledge, and encouragement.”
Living in Argentina, where she has not met another family facing DICER1, Angie is deeply grateful for the global connections that have given them hope.
“Being able to speak with world‑class doctors in the United States and exchange information and perspectives is truly extraordinary,” she says. “Amid the darkness of this illness, the light that comes from the support of others — the warmth of family, the unwavering love of friends, the dedication of doctors and researchers, and the kindness of complete strangers — is beyond words.”
Angie offers heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kris Ann Schultz, the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair in Cancer and Blood Disorders Research at Children’s Minnesota, and Paige Mallinger, a Senior Clinical Research Coordinator at Children’s Minnesota, along with everyone involved in the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic and Pine Tree Apple Classic Fund, as well as every physician, researcher, nurse, and healthcare professional who has been part of their story.
“Your knowledge gave us direction, your generosity gave us comfort, and your commitment gave us hope when we needed it most,” Angie said. “Because of people like you, children like Rufo have a chance. You are part of his story, part of his strength, and part of every tomorrow we continue to dream about.”
