NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (Oct. 28, 2019) To bring some happiness to a local child, Sailors assigned to Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio visited the home of Isaac Juarez, 7, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The NRD was initially contacted by Jacki Jacob, a Navy mom, informing Navy Recruiting Station New Braunfels of Juarez’s condition.
“Isaac and his mom had traveled to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., for a last-ditch effort in treatment,” said Jacob. “They returned to New Braunfels when the last MRI showed that it didn’t work and that the cancer had spread.”
Learning of Juarez’s condition, the NRD, led by Commanding Officer Cmdr. Nicholas Gamiz of Albuquerque, N.M., presented Juarez with an Honorary Sailor Certificate along with an America’s Navy ball cap, Forged by The Sea t-shirt, a Navy Fiesta Medal, and a copy of the U.S. Constitution.
“It was a highlight of my time in the Navy to honor Isaac in this way,” said Gamiz. “Isaac is truly a remarkable young man, and it is my honor to now call him a Shipmate and wish him Fair Winds and Following Seas.”
According to Isaac’s mother, Elida De Luna of Laredo, Texas, her son was first diagnosed with brain cancer when he was three years old.
“This was amazing for the Navy to visit with Isaac and to cheer him up,” said De Luna. “This made Isaac feel so special. My family is gratefully to the Navy and to the community who have been providing us with support.”
NRD San Antonio’s area of responsibility includes more than 34 Navy Recruiting Stations and Navy Officer Recruiting Stations spread throughout 144,000 square miles of Central and South Texas territory.
“It is humbling to know that the men and women of NRD San Antonio are dedicated to being an integral and profound part of their community,” said Gamiz.