Watch a video of I Promise It ’ s Not Goodbye , a poem by Zavier ’ s father put to music by Soundgarden ’ s Chris Cornell , on YouTube at http :// tinyurl . com / j4d4lew .
Despite this and his family ’ s history with the disease , Zavier refuses to give in to bitterness or despair . He learned from his father ’ s example to live every day fully . Zavier enjoys getting together with his friends ( who also form an important part of his support network ) to play videogames .
A movie fan , Zavier visits the local cinema every weekend with his friends or his girlfriend to catch all the latest
releases . He loves horror movies and war movies , and says his fervor for movie-going stems from the time he spent taking care of his father . “ My dad loved movies and watched movies every single night when he had cancer . We watched two movies a night .” The first movie they watched together was a horror classic , Sam Raimi ’ s original “ Evil Dead .” The time he spent together with his dad was the reason Zavier pursued a job at the movie theater .
Another legacy from his father is a friendship with the rock star Chris Cornell , the former lead singer of Soundgarden . Through the work of an adult version of the Make-A- Wish Foundation , Zavier ’ s father had received a phone call from Mr . Cornell , who was his favorite singer .
Zavier is anxious to share his story , visit http :// tinyurl . com / gpw7mne to hear more from Zavier in his own words .
The two continued to talk and email and became friends . Rory Dela Rosa sent Mr . Cornell a poem he wrote about his daughter , “ I Promise It ’ s Not Goodbye .” Mr . Cornell set the words to music and recorded it , so Mr . Dela Rosa heard the song before he died . ( Watch the video on YouTube at http :// tinyurl . com / j4d4lew )
Mr . Cornell has since met Zavier and his mother . He has flown them to a Soundgarden concert in Chicago and visits Zavier when he comes to Texas . Mr . Cornell has talked about the Dela Rosa family in interviews . “ It ’ s interesting to see people know my story from an artist who is so big and famous ,” Zavier says .
Fighting back with hope Zavier ’ s cancer treatment had been going well for more than a year , but in May he encountered a setback . On the day before his 21st birthday , he learned the most recent MRI had shown the tumor was growing . Zavier faced another surgery with his own brand of optimism . “ It was easier knowing what I ’ m about to go through rather than not knowing and being scared ,” he says .
“ Once again Zavier and his care team fought back with a successful surgery performed again by Dr . Harris . “ The surgery went very well . We caught it again before a major growth could have happened ,” Zavier says . He adds , “ So far I ’ m looking good ,” as he gets ready to continue with another round of chemotherapy .
Zavier does not mind telling people about his cancer . He wants to get his story out . “ I know how serious this cancer is ,” he says . “ People are still amazed I ’ ve been through it , but I ’ m just who I was from day one .” The importance of living life fully and appreciating moments is a lifelong lesson for some , but for Zavier it ’ s all he knows . A life lived well , indeed . n
Learn about Dr . Fonkem ’ s research efforts on familial glioblastoma on p . 16 .
sw . org | Fall 16 THE CATALYST 15