In 2022, two months after his dad received the same diagnosis, a then three-year-old Christian “Leo” Lopez heard the words: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. “Ever since then, it’s been a blur,” says Lopez’s mom, Stephanie Corona. Lopez had not been acting like himself for several months prior to his diagnosis. “He was getting sick all the time, eating less, feeling weak, not playing like a normal three-year-old,” Corona remembers. She would bring Lopez to urgent care facilities, the nurses would examine him, and
they would conclude he had a simple sinus infection or a similar cold-like condition. Corona and Lopez would head home, a course of antibiotics in hand, only for the cycle to repeat.
On one rough night, Corona decided to take Lopez to the emergency room instead. Lopez was transferred to Children’s Hospital immediately, and the doctors told Corona they suspected cancer. “He went through the whole process of the pediatric leukemia [treatment],” Corona says. Luckily, Lopez didn’t need radiation or any transplants, but he did need to have a port put in and chemo administered. “I don’t remember how many rounds,” Corona says of what became a three-year process.
One proud moment during treatment was when Lopez accepted doctor’s accessing his port. He normally screamed, cried, and wholeheartedly fought the procedure. “It was like all hell broke loose,” Corona explains. But this particular time, he didn’t. “One day he just automatically said, ‘Yeah, go ahead, poke me. It’s not going to hurt me, and I’m not going to scream or move,’” Corona says. “I think that was one of the proudest moments I felt for him.”
Another highlight was attending Camp Esparanza, a summer camp for pediatric cancer patients. “They spend a week at the camp, and [staff] have a bunch of activities for them,” says Corona. It was a bit nerve-wracking to be away from family—for both Lopez and Corona—but Corona says
the camp became a memorable moment. “He came back as happy as he could be, and he's excited to go again,” she says.
Having his dad go through similar treatment, made it easier for Lopez understand what was happening to him and remain optimistic. His dad also had a port, went through chemo, and has had a few bone marrow transplants during his own treatment journey. “I think [having his dad
going through a similar experience] really helped lean Leo to the ‘We can do this!’ side,” Corona says.
Lopez, who wants to be a marine biologist when he grows up, became cancer free in August 2025, more than three years after his initial diagnosis. He gets retested to see if he is still in remission every month, but so far, all his exams look clear. His dad, however, is still battling the disease and recently underwent Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy.
Last fall, Lopez was selected to be a model for the 2026 Children’s Cancer Fund Gala. Patients from Children’s Health begin applying to be models months in advance, and the gala’s board members select 18 to 20 to participate in the gala. Models are later announced at an event at
NorthPark shopping center and gifted a custom Cowboys football with their name on it and a shopping spree—what Corona says was a memorable moment for Lopez. “I am excited about being a CCF fashion show model because I am handsome,” Lopez wrote on his model profile.
Models also select their runway outfit from Dillard’s, then strut their stuff at the gala with a celebrity figure of their choosing. Lopez wanted to walk the runway with Steve from the Minecraft movie, but that wasn’t possible, so he was assigned one of the event’s biggest supporters, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman. He and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott are honorary event co-chairs for the Children’s Cancer Fund Gala.
“Every time I come back, I’m reminded of the strength and courage these children show—not just on the runway, but in their daily fight. Being part of this is one of the most meaningful experiences of my life,” says Aikman. “It’s been an honor to stand beside them and their families and to watch this gala grow in impact and heart year after year. Being a part of something that brings hope, healing, and critical support to so many is truly one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.”
Buzzing with energy, Lopez sprinted down the runway in a dark blue suit, a smiling Aikman trotting in tow. That night, Corona says it was hard to get him to sleep because he was so excited. “Being a cancer patient, you had to stay home, be careful with germs everywhere, and not be around too many people, but being involved in something like that really helped us, and seeing him be with children, and just feeling like the center of attention, it was really welcoming,” says Corona.
The only thing missing that night was Lopez’s dad, who unfortunately, couldn’t leave the hospital to make it to the event. “Leo understood his dad wasn’t able to be there, but he had a lot of distraction with his aunt and uncle being there,” Corona explains. “He was really happy that night.”
Lopez will continue tests to confirm he is still in remission regularly, though the frequency will drop over time if scans continue to look clear. He has been largely able to resume daily life, and next year, may shift from homeschooling to public school, if his family feels it's appropriate.
They continue to hope for recovery for Lopez’s father as well. “We've always been positive, and just taking it one thing at a time with his dad and Leo,” Corona says.
“Being a cancer patient, you had to stay home, be careful with germs everywhere, and not be around too many people, but being involved in the Children’s Cancer Fund Gala like that really helped us,” Stephanie Corona.
“We've always been positive, and just taking it one thing at a time with his dad and Leo,” Stephanie Corona.