Regis Feitosa Mota, a Brazilian father, faced an unimaginable tragedy when he lost all three of his children to cancer. Unfortunately, he has now succumbed to the disease himself. In 2016, Regis and his children received devastating news – they were diagnosed with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), a condition that significantly heightens the risk of developing deadly tumors.
Regis, a 53-year-old economist from Fortaleza, had already battled cancer twice before. However, in January of this year, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that affects white blood cells. Eight months later, he passed away, leaving behind his grieving wife, Mariella. Mariella described the pain as “indescribable” and had held onto the hope that Regis would conquer the disease.
The loss of their children had already left a void in this family’s heart. Beatriz, their youngest daughter, tragically succumbed to leukemia in 2018 at the age of 10. Their son Pedro, who was studying to become a mechanical engineer, died at the age of 22 from a brain tumor in 2020. Their eldest daughter, Anna Carolina, passed away at the age of 25 in 2022 after battling a brain tumor. Anna Carolina had been engaged and had just completed her medical degree with plans to specialize in dermatology.
Li-Fraumeni syndrome is estimated to affect at least one in 20,000 families, with some suggesting it may impact as many as one in 5,000 families. The National Institutes of Health estimates that around 50,000 Americans have this condition. LFS is diagnosed through genetic testing and can lead to cancer at any age, though it is more common to develop cancer at a younger age. The condition is caused by a mutation in the TP53 gene, responsible for regulating cell division and triggering cell death when DNA damage is detected.
Individuals with LFS are prone to developing cancers in the bones, muscles, connective tissues, breast, brain, leukemia, and adrenal gland. Other types of cancers, such as lung cancer, kidney cancer, and intestinal tract cancers, have also been observed in LFS patients.
Regis first learned of his cancer diagnosis in 2016 when he sought medical attention for fever, neck swelling, and muscle weakness. He was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a type of cancer affecting white blood cells in the bone marrow. In 2021, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which affects the lymph system. In January of this year, he received his third cancer diagnosis – multiple myeloma, a bone-affecting cancer.
Despite multiple treatments and therapies, Regis acknowledged the gravity of his condition. He stated, “We have already treated lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which are now stabilized. But… they are not cured. This time, we discovered multiple myeloma, which even affects the bones.”
Regis’s health steadily declined, leading to his hospitalization at the end of last month. Sadly, he passed away on August 13, which happened to be Father’s Day. He was cremated the following day in his hometown of Fortaleza.
Mariella Pompeu, Regis’s widow, paid tribute to her late husband and expressed the immeasurable pain she feels. She stated, “My friends, I never imagined making this post. I never prepared myself for this moment because I was always convinced Régis would make a full recovery. It’s an indescribable pain. The ground has opened up, and I don’t know what life will be like without his affection, companionship, and absolute love.”
Rogério Feitosa Mota, Regis’s brother, honored Regis’s memory by expressing his love and acknowledging that he had now joined his beloved children on Father’s Day.
The family’s encounter with cancer began in 2009 when Anna Carolina, the eldest daughter, was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia at the age of 12. She underwent three years of radiotherapy and chemotherapy before being declared cancer-free. When Regis received his cancer diagnosis in 2016 and Pedro, their son, was also diagnosed with bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in his left leg, they realized this wasn’t a coincidence and decided to investigate further.
Genetic testing revealed that Regis and all three of his children had Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Although Regis was burdened with the guilt of his children’s cancer, they never blamed him and considered him a victim of the disease as well.
After the genetic diagnosis, the family underwent regular medical checkups. In 2017, Beatriz, their youngest daughter, was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of nine. Despite receiving a bone marrow transplant, the cancer returned rapidly, and she sadly passed away in 2018.
Pedro fought against bone cancer with several years of chemotherapy, but unfortunately, it had spread to his lungs and spine. In 2019, he was also diagnosed with a brain tumor and tragically died in November 2020. Pedro had dreamt of becoming an electrical engineer and briefly attended college before his health treatments made it impossible to continue.
After successfully battling the initial blood cancer, Anna Carolina was living her dreams. However, in 2021, she was devastated by the news of a brain tumor. She had just become a doctor and was engaged to be married the following year. Anna Carolina’s aspirations included specializing in dermatology, inspired by her childhood spent in hospitals and her late stepfather, who was a doctor.
Regis gained recognition by sharing his family’s journey on his Instagram account @regisfeitosamota, which currently has nearly 900,000 followers. This platform allowed him to connect with supporters and shed light on their heartbreaking experiences.
The loss of four beloved family members due to cancer is a devastating tragedy. Regis Feitosa Mota and his children’s story reminds us of the resilience and strength of the human spirit when faced with unimaginable obstacles. May their memories live on and inspire others to support cancer research and provide solace for those affected by this ruthless disease.
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