Read about upcoming changes to UnitedHealthcare coverage.
When Chaya “Victoria” Bueno looks at her 10 weekold son, Konnor, she sees more than just a good baby who sleeps through the night and breastfeeds with ease. She sees the life she fought for through exhaustion and uncertainty.
In late 2020, Victoria knew something wasn’t quite right when she suddenly she needed two, sometimes three naps just to get through the day. She was working hard as a bartender and waitress, but her body felt tired in a way that no amount of sleep could fix.
After night sweats and low-grade fevers appeared, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something deeper was going on and that she needed to see a doctor. But it was still the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when medical visits needed to be balanced with risk of exposure, not to mention longer wait times to be seen by a physician.
After months of feeling unwell, in January 2021, a series of blood work, imaging tests, and a hematologist in Brooklyn provided clarity and the answers: Hodgkin lymphoma and heart failure.
At just 31 years old, Victoria felt her entire life shift in an instant. The diagnosis was unexpected and reshaped the path ahead.
After six rounds of chemotherapy that didn’t seem to be working, Victoria’s brother, Avi, who works at Weill Cornell Medicine, urged her to get a second opinion. It was the bridge that led her to Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and into the care of Dr. Tsiporah Shore, who became a cornerstone in her healing journey.
"Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that forms when certain white blood cells called lymphocytes grow out of control, usually in lymph nodes that can spread to organs such as the spleen and liver. This form of cancer is often diagnosed in young adults,” explains Dr. Shore, Associate Director of the Weill Cornell Medicine Bone Marrow Transplant and Cell Therapy Program.
Dr. Shore recommended that Victoria undergo a stem cell transplant after completing an additional three rounds of a different type of chemotherapy in order to keep the cancer at bay and prevent it from coming back.
In October 2021, Victoria went through the stem cell transplant procedure, a treatment which required her to spend nearly a month in the hospital. The aftermath left her temporarily weak and immunocompromised as her immune system worked to rebuild itself.
The isolation that followed was intense, but Victoria refused to let it define her experience. She kept her hospital room social, and leaned on family, friends, and the nurses who, she says, “went above and beyond” to help lift her spirits.
“For many people, a stem cell transplant offers real hope for curing their cancer, but it can be a tough road with some challenging moments along the way,” says Dr. Shore.
Victoria tried to stay positive and make the best of the situation. “Sometimes laughter and good food were the best non-medicines that I had.”
Through it all, she drew strength from the people in her life. Her best friend Rachel, who she met at summer camp at age 11, was a constant presence. So was Keith, her boyfriend at the time, who supported her emotionally through every twist and turn, despite her attempts to convince him to run away.
In 2024, Victoria and Keith got married at City Hall, followed by a larger wedding ceremony with Rachel serving as maid of honor and their families by their sides.
Victoria always knew that she wanted to be a mother, but her cancer treatment led to early menopause which made it difficult to use her own eggs to get pregnant. She and Keith began fertility treatment using an egg donor. Her pregnancy was considered high-risk due to her cancer history and cardiovascular disease. Despite that, it was filled with joy and gratitude for a chapter she once worried might not come.
Victoria credits her miracle baby to a combination of science, her Jewish faith and the “Luck of the Irish” that comes from her husband’s side of the family. “Motherhood can look different for everyone,” she says. “I never think of my son as anything other than my baby.”
Today, at 36, Victoria is embracing being a mom with awe and gratitude. Konnor brings new meaning to every day.
Recently, Victoria returned to see Dr. Shore for a followup visit and brought baby Konnor with her. The moment was pure joy.
“I saw Victoria during some very difficult parts of lymphoma treatment and now I get to see her as a mom entering this beautiful new chapter in her life,” Dr. Shore says. “As an oncologist, I really cherish seeing my patients reclaim their lives. It’s one of the greatest privileges of my work.”
Victoria views her path to motherhood as a testament to the power of positivity, community, and determination.
Her message for others facing cancer is simple and heartfelt: “You’re stronger than you think. Lean on your people and don’t give up. The only way through is through, and there is a way through.”
