ph: (210) 998-5130
Local Staff Contacts
South Central Texas - San Antonio
431 Isom Road, Suite 125
San Antonio, TX 78216
San Antonio, TX 78216
Honored Teammates
Zach Rodriguez
Zach was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia on July 28, 2008. It all started with some bruising out of nowhere that wouldn't heal. Then he started getting purple dots on his legs. But he felt fine, everything was normal. Finally a few weeks later the dots were getting worse so we decided it was time to go see the doctor. We were thinking some anemia had to be the culprit for the bruising. But after a quick finger prick, we were immediately sent to the hospital. What a crazy day that was. Going in for a rash and bruising and ending up there! The next morning the doctor confirmed that it was Leukemia. Our world fell apart. Later he was also diagnosed with Diabetes. On August 31st, he had a seizure which led us to finding fungus in his brain and lungs. God will beat out this Leukemia and fungus from Zach's body and brain and heal him here on earth and Zach and GOD will WIN!!
Zach celebrated his 12th birthday this year. We bought him a new bike and of course some toys! Zach is now in middle school and he loves it. How time flies. Zach is full of life, a fighter & has a strong faith in GOD. We are so proud of him!
Mike Thompson
I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 1995 at the age of 10. My family and I battled the disease for three and a half years. After months of chemotherapy treatments, infections, over 50 surgeries, and two unrelated bone marrow transplants, the doctors finally found the cancer to be in remission. However in late 1999, a tumor of Osteosarcoma, a bone cancer, was discovered in the lower right-hand side of my jaw. My doctors determined the cause to be radiation from my first bone marrow transplant, and after two more invasive chemo treatments, they performed a facial reconstruction using the fibula from my left leg.
In the years that followed I faced depression, chronic pain, addiction to medication and the constant fear that the cancer would return. It was with the help of God, my family and friends, and organizations like LLS that carried me through the worst times so that I would have the opportunity to experience the best that life had to offer. My body fought through toxic treatments to help me stay alive, now I hope to give back by staying active and healthy. I love to swim, ride, run, paddle and do anything outside. This season I am training for another trip around Lake Tahoe with Team in Training, and will be competing in Ironman Cozumel in November. I will never be able to repay the generosity and overwhelming support given by those around me, but I will hopefully make them proud by living a happy, healthy life and spreading positivity wherever I find myself. I now spend my days training and raising money for the fight against cancer and I hope to inspire others to find what makes them happy and fight for it, whether they are battling a disease or not.
Life is a gift, and it is way too short to spend it doing anything besides searching for happiness. There will be hard times but they don't last forever. Surround yourself with amazing people, push your body to its limits, and try everything you can while you are alive. To those who are in the middle of their fight: Keep Fighting. I love this TEAM!
If you would like information on becoming an Honored Hero, please contact Laura Mills at (512) 491-6610 x 7772
