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
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
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-AWish 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.
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
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