Soraya Creek

On April 24, 2005, 8-year-old Soraya Creek was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, an aggressive tumor that rapidly affects nearby healthy brain tissue and is challenging to treat. Physicians predicted that Soraya would not live six weeks. During the next three months, she had six brain surgeries and became paralyzed on the right side of her body. She and her parents lived in seven hospitals in three states for a year and a half. 

Six months later, in October 2005, Soraya’s mom, Catherine, noticed a small red spot on Soraya’s right cheek. With it was a lump. Catherine inquired about the lump among Soraya’s doctors, fearful that it was another tumor.  Doctors said that it wasn’t possible for Soraya’s cancer to spread outside the central nervous system so it must be an infection. Although this spot grew from a small dot to a huge mass in a matter of weeks, physicians maintained that it could not be anything more than an infection. Catherine reached out to countless doctors, sending pictures of the mass to top doctors around the world, seeking a diagnosis.  They all said it was an infection.

After six months of continuous growth, a biopsy was conducted.  It confirmed that Soraya had Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, a malignant soft tissue tumor that is formed from embryonic skeletal muscle tissue.  After enduring chemotherapy to fight both tumors, Soraya now also needed radiation to her face. 

Tragically, after a year and a half of suffering to fight two types of cancers, Soraya passed away. It wasn’t until after she passed that her mom was able to obtain an accurate diagnosis for the second cancer. Soraya had Glioblastoma Multiforme and Pleomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma.  She was the only person in medical history to be diagnosed with both diseases at the same time.