Aggie in need of a 12th Man during cancer battle

For those of you who know me, you know that I have been working hard my entire life trying to attain the highest quality of education that my family and I could afford.   

The summer before earning my Aggie Ring, I was diagnosed with 5 tumors, including a sarcoma in my thigh. While I am fortunate enough to begin receiving care for my cancer, I am concerned about my family’s long-term ability to spend time and travel with me across the state for treatment. This entails them taking time off of work, which would make it immensely more difficult to afford general procedures and medication.

I received my diagnosis when I was only three classes away from finally earning my Aggie Ring, which was the part I was most excited about for graduation. I am currently on track to becoming one of the first in my generation to receive an Aggie Ring, as well as one of the very first out of my cousins to reach university graduation! This is extremely important to me because education was a privilege that not many in my family had access to, especially the women who raised me and I've always looked up to. I want to set a precedent for future generations and be a role model for my nieces, nephews, and even younger cousins by showing them that they can do anything they put their mind to despite their conditions.

Cancer has been the cause of death for both of my grandmothers as well as many other relatives of mine. On top of that, my dad had battled and survived cancer 3 separate times before he turned 40! It was for these reasons that I was en route to studying genetic cancer therapies before my diagnosis and consequential medical leave from Texas A&M University.

One of the most important aspects of being an Aggie is the idea of the 12th Man. As one of the most sacred traditions at Texas A&M, it promotes the idea that “the power of the 12th man is echoed in the unity, the loyalty, and the willingness of Aggies to serve when called to do so.” So, now I am calling on the spirit of the 12thMan to help me face the battle of a lifetime.

I hope to have a swift recovery without placing further strain on my family's resources. I don’t expect much from anyone, but for those who have the means, I am humbly asking for any help that would ease my journey to recovery.

I love y’all and can't wait to see another day in Aggieland soon! <3

           ~Lorena Maria Casares, Loudest and Proudest Member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2024.