Francisco was an incredible little boy whose bright smile and contagious laugh brought joy to everyone around him. He loved all things space and had a deep faith that shaped the way he viewed both this life and the next. Francisco often told his family that because he would not have enough time on Earth, he would become a "priest-astronaut" when he got to Heaven. His hopeful outlook was inspiring and continues to shape the way his family remembers him today.

Francisco's cancer journey began when one of his eyes started turning slightly inward every once in a while. After visiting multiple eye doctors, one sent Francisco to get a brain MRI "just to cover the bases." That scan revealed a brain tumor, and the following day Francisco and his family met with his medical team who diagnosed him with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Although his diagnosis was devastating, Francisco faced every step of his journey with hope and courage.

During his treatment, Francisco participated in the LiFU sonALAsense clinical trial at Children's National Hospital in Washington D.C. He became the sixth patient in the world to participate and the only patient to receive 10 treatments. Unfortunately, Francisco’s cancer progressed and the clinical trial ended due to a lack of funding, so Francisco began treatment with ONC201. When his cancer continued to progress, Francisco's family gave him the freedom to decide when he was ready to stop treatment. Even during the hardest moments, Francisco never lost his joyful spirit or sense of humor, often joking that he was going to "kick DIPG's butt!"

Sadly, Francisco passed away in December 2024, but his legacy continues to inspire his family and those who knew him. His mom, Laura, speaks about him every day and says his younger siblings still "chat with him" often. Through Francisco's life, they found that hope extends beyond this world, and they will continue to spread the same joy and courage he taught them with others facing childhood cancer and unimaginable loss.

Eighteen months after Francisco's passing, his family hosted their first Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) fundraiser with the help of a neighbor. The lemonade stand gave family and friends within the community the opportunity to honor Francisco while raising funds for childhood cancer research. It also introduced many people to ALSF's mission and allowed even more people to learn about Francisco's life. Francisco's family hopes his story will inspire others to help advance research for children facing DIPG and other childhood cancers.

Information provided by Laura F., Francisco’s mom
Updated July 2026