At just 13 years old, Gina Naomi Baez received news that would forever change her life – she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. After months of grueling treatment, she went into remission at 14 and looked forward to a new chapter… and a wish. Gina wished for a quinceañera, a grand celebration of her fifteenth birthday that she'd been looking forward to long before her diagnosis.

“I wanted a big bash, a celebration—a celebration of life,” she recalls. And that’s exactly what she got. Surrounded by her friends, family, and the community that had stood by her side during her treatment, Gina had the night of her life. “It was incredible, it was the best night. I remember it to this day—it’s ingrained in my memory.”

That wish wasn’t just a party. It was a moment of joy, healing, and a reminder that even though cancer had turned her world upside down, there was still so much to celebrate. The joy and love she felt that night carried her through the difficult times that didn’t necessarily end when treatment did.

Surviving cancer doesn’t mean the struggle ends. “There are mountains you have to climb in survivorship. It’s a journey not many people discuss,” Gina explains. There’s the emotional, social, and psychological aftermath that lingers long after the physical battle is over. But through it all, Gina remains grateful. “I am so grateful to be alive today and to be able to do what I love.”

Today, Gina is an accomplished actor, singer, and songwriter, landing roles in Only Murders In The Building, Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It , FBI and Orange is the New Black. For the past three years, she’s poured her heart into a passion project: an original musical called Abril, based on her journey through cancer as a teenager. It centers around a young girl returning to school after cancer treatment, trying to find some normalcy again.

Writing the musical, Gina connected with her younger self and found herself reflecting on the impact her wish had on her during such a critical time. “It was such a huge part of my experience and my journey,” she shares. Abril is a tribute to strength, survival, and hope—a love letter to the resilience she discovered during her battle.

Her journey shaped her into the artist and advocate she is today, passionate about raising awareness discussing the importance of community support, and now she’s helping to make wishes like hers come true. “At such a young age, I was faced with a diagnosis that changed my world. While every story is unique, mine is also a reminder that lymphoma can affect anyone, regardless of age or background.”

Gina’s wish was more than a quinceañera—it was a celebration of life, hope, and resilience. And today, through her music, she continues to spread that message to others facing their own mountains to climb.