Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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Terminally ill Sharyland teen receives Christmas wish
Posted: 12.22.2010 at 11:10 PM
Marcy Martinez

Marcy Martinez is an anchor and reporter for Action 4 News.

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If you knew you had only weeks to live and would be celebrating your last Christmas, what would you wish for?

One Sharyland teenager didn't know his friends were the ones making a wish for him to have the most memorable holiday memorable holidays ever.

Jerry Cavazos came back home for his Christmas break and gathered as many Sharyland Rattler football players, cheerleaders and their families on their day off.

Jerry says, "We made some calls and we got everybody here."

Everybody and then some. roughly 30 vehicles caravanned over to the home of 15 year old Israel Sanchez who has been homebound for years with Cystic Fibrosis.

Despite his illness, he never missed a Sharyland football game and now that his doctors say there's not much time left for him, the team has come to show their support for Israel.       

The team surprises him in his home and Israel is overcome with emotion saying, "it means a lot."

Action 4 News asks, "Did you ever think that you would have all these guys in the house with you?” "No because there are a lot of players", Israel replies.

"Is football something you wanted to play too?" we asked. "Yeah, but not in the condition I'm in now. I wish I could if I wasn't in this condition."

Rattler pride runs through Israel's veins and so does the will to live, after all this teenager has overcome many obstacles just to make it to this Christmas.  

Even though the Sanchez family has endured their share of dark days and know there are more to come, right now they are taking in one of the greatest gifts they could have asked for.

Israel is given Rattlers gear and his own jersey which he says is "sweet".

"The biggest thing I've ever seen in my whole life.”

Since this story aired on Action 4 News, there has been an outpouring of support for Israel and his family with people looking to make donations.

An account has been set up in his name.

It’s called the Sanchez Benefit Fund at Lone Star National Bank.

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