19-year-old Lucas from Chile dreamed of becoming a pilot or journalist, but when he was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) his plans changed. After four years of unsuccessful treatments, his family discovered CAR-T therapy, part of a research program at Sheba Medical Center, a cutting-edge option available in only a few countries worldwide.
Published: March 14, 2026
Lucas from Chile was 19 years old and dreaming of becoming a pilot or journalist when he was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. After four years of unsuccessful treatments, his family discovered Sheba’s CAR-T therapy research program, a cutting-edge option available in only a few countries.
Despite the distance, cost, and uncertainty, Lucas traveled to Israel for this last hope. Sheba’s large open campus immediately felt welcoming compared to Chilean hospitals.
Despite prior immune-boosting treatment, Lucas’s lymphocyte levels were too low for standard CAR-T therapy which would have used his own cells. Led by Dr. Ronit Marcus, Sheba’s team proposed a rare solution: using donor cells from Lucas’s mother.
The donor cell approach for CAR-T is extremely rare, but Dr. Marcus’s confidence convinced Lucas and his mother to proceed. Family and friends in Chile raised funds for the treatment and Sheba coordinators provided The faster treatment, open environment, and Sheba’s focus on patient care brought comfort to him during challenges.
Today, Lucas is in remission, blogging his journey to inspire others. He found humor amid hardship and cherished small kindnesses from Sheba’s staff.
His advice for others facing leukemia: Never give up.
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