Gabriel Gonzales
Community Hero 2005
Pizza and cheeseburgers don’t stand a chance around Gabe, 18, whose impressive ability to devour his two favorite foods in two seconds flat is widely revered by his circle of family and friends. When asked to name the activities he likes most, Gabe lists Nintendo, soccer and hanging with friends. His taste in music runs the gamut, from R&B and rap, to good ole’ rock and roll.
To date, Gabe has dealt with a horde of surgeries and exhaustive treatments for osteogenic sarcoma, the most common form of bone cancer in children today. Although his illness and ongoing hospitalizations often keep him away from school, his family and his friends, Gabe says he feels grateful that his family has become much closer through it all.
He advises other young people facing a similar situation to “research your illness and learn as much as you can about it. Be sure to talk to your family about things, stay strong and, most importantly, never give up.”
