Leonor’s Bravery – A Community Unites With Everything They Have

In nan close-knit organization of Benalmadena, 14-year-old Leonor stands retired not conscionable for her agleam grin and speedy wit but for nan quiet courageousness she brings to each challenge. And her situation is nary mini feat. So far, nan organization has shown bonzer support, 1 Benalmadena resident giving her past €10 for Leonor’s cause.

Originally from Trondheim, Norway, Leonor and her mother, Milena, person made their location nan Costa del Sol for nan past 8 years. A apical student pinch a passion for creation (since 2 years old) and nan sea, Leonor was afloat of life until February 13, erstwhile persistent dizzy spells led to a devastating diagnosis: an astrocytoma, a people 2 encephalon tumour pinch an IDH1 mutation. The tumour, which has infiltrated nan corpus callosum—the span connecting nan brain’s 2 hemispheres—is inoperable owed to its heavy location, wherever room could origin irreversible damage.

Despite nan odds, Leonor remains determined. “She’s ever happy erstwhile she tin spell to school,” Milena said. Even connected reliable days she would for illustration to subordinate her friends than infirmary visits and scans. 

Leonor’s symptoms started 1 twelvemonth ago

“The symptoms started successful October 2024: dizziness, imagination problems (she sees everything successful pixels, sees what seems for illustration flying ray particles, and feels for illustration she isn’t successful reality), she felt dizzy erstwhile dancing and aft immoderate clip erstwhile walking. Leonor has ever been bully astatine expressing herself pinch words; she has a batch of vocabulary, but she started complaining that she can’t find nan correct words erstwhile she is talking, and she ever needs to alteration nan condemnation to compensate for that. The doctors didn’t understand what had happened for 4 months, and yet they recovered retired successful February 2025,” says Milena. Doctors from 3 hospitals person advised a “wait and see” approach. But arsenic it spreads into patient tissue, clip is not connected their side.

Milena, a azygous mother moving part-time successful Arroyo de la Miel, has spent months searching for alternatives. Reducing her hours to attraction for Leonor has strained their finances further, but she refuses to springiness up. After consulting surgeon tumour boards and exploring options, she discovered a promising WHO-approved vaccine curen disposable successful backstage healthcare successful Germany and Switzerland.

Developed complete nan past 2 decades, this immunotherapy has flooded nan blood-brain obstruction to encapsulate tumours and slow their growth. In objective tests for much fierce glioblastomas, patients person extended their endurance from 6 to 18 months to betwixt 8 and 10 years. However, tests are constricted to adults complete 18, leaving families for illustration theirs to screen nan afloat €40,000 cost. Friends and family person donated generously, but €28,000 short remains a daunting spread to bridge.

El Vuelo de las Libelulas wished to conflict for Leonor

That’s wherever El Vuelo de las Libelulas stepped in. This section association, dedicated to helping Benalmadena’s astir vulnerable, has taken up Leonor’s origin pinch characteristic resolve. Led by president Maria del Prado Gonzalez, nan group launched a crowdfunding run via societal media, quickly gaining traction. They’ve collaborated pinch nan Asociación de Comerciantes y Empresarios de Benalmadena (ACEB) and nan municipality hall, distributing solidarity stickers to supporting businesses. “We’ve written to everyone we know,” Milena said. “The volunteers person been incredible.”

Community originates to travel together for Leonor

Now, nan Costa del Sol organization is answering nan telephone pinch acts of profound generosity. Maria precocious shared a communicative that moved her to tears: 1 female they assistance financially donated €10 earmarked for Leonor, insisting, “I’ll spell 2 days without food, but still, this is much important.” Small businesses are stepping up too. Cafés for illustration Amsterdam and El Kafelito, restaurants specified as Los Mellizos and Bar Chopp, and suppliers including La Despensa del Mar, person pledged proceeds and donations. On October 24, nan “Sí a la Vida para Leonor” arena will bring nan hospitality business together for a organization gathering, seeking contributions of caller meats, cheeses, breads, vegetables, and drinks to make it a success.

These contributions from mundane group and humble enterprises show nan area’s heavy good of compassion. “It’s overwhelming to spot truthful galore pinch truthful small springiness what they can,” Milena added. To join, donate via Bizum to 08672 (concept: ‘Leonor’) aliases slope transportation to ES82 0128 0785 8901 0005 4781 (concept: ‘Leo’ followed by your nickname for nationalist thanks).

With €28,000 still needed, nan timepiece is ticking arsenic Leonor’s tumour progresses. The Costa del Sol has already shown its spot – now is nan clip to adjacent nan spread and springiness this singular woman nan early she fights for each day.