CMFA 1465 supports Jose’s fight against cancer

Many of you may already know the story of this amazing young man.... and for those who don’t, here it is!!!  Jose is 29 years old and works with the Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue as an Ambulance Operator/ EMT. He is also Reserve firefighter for San Diego County fire. Jose is one of the most amazing young men we have had the pleasure of working beside and we consider him one of our “Fire Family”. 

He is no stranger to adversity and was exposed to it at the very young age of 13, when he lost his father to colon cancer. Little did he know, this was a preview of the challenges he would face, when in July 2016, at the age of 24, Jose was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. He was not feeling well and spent a couple weeks at Mission Hospital with no answers as to why...dealing with a large amount of blood loss, he became anemic and underwent numerous tests and procedures. He was experiencing many symptoms of pain and irritable bowel syndrome.  After 2 weeks, he was given answers. The  CT scans revealed more than 100 polyps and multiple tumors the size of a fist covering his large intestine. He had to endure a complicated 13-hour laparoscopic surgery to remove his colon, which was replaced for three months by a ileostomy bag.  He then underwent  another surgery to implant a synthetic substitute for his colon.  To make his battle even worse,  he was not fighting this battle alone... a few months before his diagnosis, his older sister Reyna was dealing with the exact same thing!  She  was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. He fought the fight side by side with his sister and was given a clean bill of health. He won the war.... or so he thought, Jose had now been cancer free for 5 years. In April 2021 all of that changed, and Jose has been faced with another fight.... stage 4 lung cancer. Just as he thought his life was going great... it has been turned upside down again.... cancer has declared war.

Jose has gone through another battery of exams, tests, and procedures, fasting multiple days on end and enduring the colon cleansing fluids in preparation for even more testing. The CT scan found an unusual lung nodule that had grown on his left lower lobe. He had to get a biopsy done that had confirmed it was positive for cancer and it was growing. He was so nervous as they told him he could potentially have a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) with that procedure. He had done every single procedure and exam possible even a procedure that he had to swallow a pill but it had a camara inside to makes sure everything was good in his only intestine he has left. They removed couple polyps from his small intestine through colonoscopy and endoscopy. The extreme battery of exams, procedures and lab work have created financial expenses exceeding insurance coverage and far exceeding what his position can cover. All before the treatment and chemotherapy had begun. Jose’s chemotherapy treatments will span 6 months, and exceed thousands of dollars in cost. Along with this, Jose will endure another surgery in an attempt to remove the tumor in his lung in hopes of ridding his body of cancer once and for all. Jose will not be able to work during his treatments as he will need to focus on his health and once and for all WIN THIS WAR and beat cancer. We know God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers, and he will beat this!!  It’s been one hell of a battle with cancer.  As ironic as it is, Jose is a first responder, and all he has ever wanted is to help others! Now it’s his turn to receive something he would never ask for.... help. If you could find it in your hearts to donate to help Jose...we would be forever grateful.  We are his army behind him and and his family, helping him fight this incredible fight.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts❤ and a special THANK YOU to Jose’s close friend Tami VanZandt for helping set up this page.