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Faith helps family fight son’s illness

Faith helps family fight son’s illness
Joey Tamez
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November 3, 2009
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STOCKDALE -- Joey Tamez is a 15-year-old sophomore at Stockdale High School. According to his dad, Joey is mild-natured, artistic, and loves music, and he’s doing very well in school. At least, he has been until recently. Joey has been diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme tumors, a type of aggressive malignant tumor that often results in death. The late Sen. Ted Kennedy’s death was attributed, in part, to this kind of tumor.

A benefit to help Joey and the Tamez family will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Stockdale Church of Christ annex. The event will include a meal of barbecued chicken with all the trimmings, dessert, and a drink, according to Joey’s aunt, Sylvia Aguilar. Plates will be $7 each.

Joey is the son of Bob and Sally Tamez. He has two older sisters and a younger brother. Asked by one of his elementary schoolteachers what he wanted to be when he grew up, Joey drew a picture of a man in front of a pulpit, saying he wanted to be a preacher like his grandfather.

“I knew then that God would use him someday,” Bob wrote in a letter, shared with the Wilson County News.

Since Joey’s diagnosis, Bob said, “Sally and I have been through a rollercoaster ride of different emotions. Although his tumor has taken us all by surprise, it was completely removed … unfortunately, he has two more. …”

The family was told medical personnel will do everything they can for Joey. Nonetheless, this has been difficult for the family.

“I had never ever felt so helpless and scared in my life,” Bob wrote. He has been praying for Joey’s life to be spared.

While Joey fights the tumors, his parents have looked for ways to keep his spirits up. Joey has only asked for three things, his dad said. He wants a new saxophone, since he’s had his for six years now. Joey wants to take an airplane ride to anywhere, since he’s never flown, and he asked his parents for a weeklong trip to Disney World in Florida.

“With God’s help, I will give him these things,” Bob wrote.

“I believe … God is using my son to bring people into a closer relationship to Him,” Bob said. “People have been praying without ceasing. … People have been taught to serve and I’ve seen it. … I have felt the love and concern of so many people.”

Despite everything, Joey has shown no fear, Bob said.

“Joey has amazing strength and I am very proud of him,” his dad said.

The Tamez family thanks everyone who has “been wonderful and has shown us love and brought us food and given us financial assistance,” Bob wrote. He added, “The weight of the dollar cannot compare to the power of prayer.”

Proceeds from the benefit will assist the Tamez family in providing Joey with medical care and to make his wishes a reality.

Donations are welcome and can be made at any Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union branch, account 2033012; or Commerce Bank Texas in Stockdale, account 10001859. Checks should be made payable to “Joey Tamez Benefit.”

For meal tickets or more information, call Sylvia Aguilar at 210-275-3394 or Carolyn Richter at 830-534-8032.


About glioblastoma
Glioblastoma tumors affect the brain, forming in the glial cells. These cells clean up brain debris and transport nutrients to neurons and provide insulation -- myelin -- to neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems, among other functions, according to “Neuroscience for Kids” at http://faculty.washington.edu.
These tumors are aggressive and malignant, according to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Web site, http://www.csmc.edu. Symptoms include seizures or persistent headaches. Once diagnosed, they are often treated with radiation therapy and sometimes chemotherapy. Only about one in four patients with glioblastoma multiforme survives two years, the Cedars-Sinai Web site states, although prospects are better when the patient is younger than 45 and all or most of the tumor(s) can be removed.
 


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