TUCSON, Ariz. (May 12, 2020) – A high school graduation parade is being planned for Wednesday May 13 to honor the strength, courage and tenacity of two Diamond Children’s patients fighting cancer.

Lino Cordova and Noah Nieto are both 18 and are patients at Diamond Children’s Medical Center. Nieto has been a patient since August 2019 and Cordova since May 2010.

Cordova was set to graduate from Sahuarita High School in 2019, but due to his cancer diagnosis and treatment, he had to catch up with his classmates via online classes. Nieto was set to graduate this May from Empire High School in Vail.    

Cary Nesbitt, RN, came up with the idea of a car parade to help make graduation special for the two patients. She has gotten to know the patients very well as their nurse at Diamond Children’s. She anticipates 36 cars will participate in the parade, which will drive through the graduates’ neighborhoods sharing their excitement for their fight against cancer and graduating high school.

The parade will start staging at 4:30 p.m. at Hot Rods, 10500 E. Old Vail Road in Vail, then proceed to Nieto’s home in Vail. The parade will reconvene at Great Expectation's Academy, 1466 W. Camino Antigua, Sahuarita, and then proceed to Cordova’s home in Sahuarita.

The team will present the graduates with gift cards and a basket filled with their favorite snacks and other items that the teens love. The families also will be provided with a catered meal.  

“I have worked so hard to make this day extra special for these two amazing young men that hold a special place in everyone's hearts at Diamond Children’s. If it was not for my wonderful coworkers who embraced my brainstorm it would have not be possible,” said Nesbitt.

Media are invited to cover this event. For more details, please contact Rebecca Ruiz McGill, 520-360-0308, Rebecca.ruizmcgill@bannerhealth.com.

About Banner Children’s – Diamond Children’s Medical Center

Banner Children’s – Diamond Children’s Medical Center provides pediatric care for children, from newborns to teens. Services include emergency care, heart disorders, traumatic brain injury, autism and developmental disorders, cancer, diabetes and endocrinology, gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders, neurological problems, orthopedics, intensive care needs and more. It is the only pediatric medical facility in Arizona connected to an academic research facility — the University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center — where physician-scientists provide access to groundbreaking science and research to advance children’s health. For more information, visit www.BannerChildrens.com/DiamondChildrens. Follow us on social media: Follow us on social: Facebook: @BannerDiamondChildrensMedicalCenter