A Second Chance at Life: Paying It Forward

My name is Jose Osollo, and in 2022, my life changed forever.

At just 22 years old, while serving in the military and training for Ranger School, I felt a sharp pain behind my knee—something that didn’t feel like the usual soreness or strain. It was deeper, unfamiliar. What followed was a series of scans, uncertainty, and then a single sentence from my doctor that shook me to the core:

“I had a tumor a few years ago, and I’m alive and well.”

That was the first time I heard the word “tumor” in connection to my own body.

After further testing and a biopsy at the UNM Cancer Center, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma—a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer. A tumor the size of a golf ball had taken root inside my left femur. In an instant, everything changed. I was young, healthy, in the best shape of my life, and had just landed a dream job at NASA. Suddenly, I was fighting for my life.

The journey that followed was brutal:

• Multiple major surgeries, including the reconstruction of my femur

• Over a year and a half of physical therapy

• Learning how to walk again

• Sleepless nights filled with fear, wondering if I would survive

But with unwavering determination, the support of my loved ones, and faith, I beat cancer. Today, at 26 years old, I’m in remission and back to doing what I love—training, running, and pushing myself both physically and mentally. In the past year, I’ve completed several 5Ks, 10Ks, and even a half marathon—not just for myself, but to raise awareness for bone cancer.

Now, I want to do more.

I’m starting this GoFundMe not for myself, but for others currently battling this relentless disease. Every dollar raised will go toward supporting cancer patients in need—people who, like I once was, are facing some of the darkest days of their lives. This is my way of giving back, of honoring the journey that brought me here, and of standing beside those still fighting.

I won’t keep a single cent. This is for the warriors. The fighters. The survivors. The families.

This is for hope.

Thank you for reading my story. If it moved you, please consider donating or sharing. Together, we can be the light for someone else.

— Jose Osollo