Speech regression, vision changes and trouble walking led to a shocking diagnosis for a Corpus Christi toddler.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — For months, Victoria Gonzalez and Richard Lara searched for answers as their son Noah began losing skills he once had.

The Corpus Christi couple said their non-verbal toddler experienced speech regression, changes in behavior and difficulty walking. They believed they might be dealing with a developmental disorder or another underlying condition.



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Instead, they received devastating news.

Doctors discovered a lemon-sized brain tumor after Noah Gonzalez-Lara was taken to the emergency room Friday for repeated vomiting. Surgeons removed about 90% of the mass Sunday.

On Wednesday, the family learned the tumor was medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor.

The family also said doctors informed them the cancer had spread to Noah’s spine. Doctors are now evaluating treatment options that could include chemotherapy and radiation.

Now, Noah’s parents are sharing their story in hopes of helping other families recognize potential warning signs sooner.

“Noah’s just a radiant, uncontainable bundle of joy, you know, just a happy kid, very interactive,” Lara told 3NEWS. “If you’re sad, he’s coming to comfort you.”

“He has a big personality for someone who’s so small and he just loves running around and being free,” Gonzalez said. “He just loves Cole Park so much.”

The family said Noah’s developmental regression first became noticeable when he was about 14 months old.

“It started off when he was about 14 months old,” Gonzalez said. “He kind of regressed with his speech. He stopped saying words. He went completely mute.”

As time went on, other symptoms followed.

“It was all of his motor skills, his vision, his speech delay, the way he was walking,” Gonzalez said.

Noah’s parents said they sought evaluations from specialists while trying to determine what was causing the changes they were seeing.

“We went to specialists, we went to everything that you can think of. We checked off every box,” Gonzalez said. “They kind of just were like, you know, it’s a speech delay.”

Everything changed Friday when Noah began repeatedly vomiting, prompting a trip to the emergency room.

Doctors soon discovered the tumor and moved quickly into surgery.

According to the family, surgeons removed about 90% of the mass within 48 hours. Noah now faces additional treatment as doctors work to address the remaining cancer.

“Possibility of chemo, and maybe radiation if there’s some slight tumor still left in the body,” Lara said.

The family said Noah will continue receiving treatment at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi.

Despite the diagnosis and major surgery, Noah’s parents say their son continues to show the same determination that has carried him through the ordeal.

“He’s a fighter,” Gonzalez said.

“It took them a long time to put him to sleep for the surgery actually,” Lara added. “They’ve already gone through so much medicine just because of him.”

As Noah begins the next phase of treatment, his parents hope their experience can help other families recognize symptoms that may warrant additional medical attention, especially in young children who may not yet be able to communicate what they are feeling.

“I thought he was having a tantrum, going from happy and then automatically just having a sad, very painful mood,” Lara said. “It happened to be a tumor in his head this whole time, but yet he’s still being strong and happy.”

“It’s very important to stay alert.”

Friends and family have also launched a fundraiser to help support Noah and his family as he undergoes treatment. Those interested in contributing can donate through the family’s GoFundMe campaign.