On Friday, Feb. 2, Darius Hedspeth’s life changed forever.
Tuesday, Jan. 30 Hedspeth was hit in the groin twice during his school basketball game. This led to a doctor’s appointment, which then led to a referral to a urologist, including CT scans and ultrasounds. Unfortunately, the doctor’s visits don’t end there. Hedspeth was diagnosed with Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of cancer that was discovered after an orange-sized cancerous tumor was removed.
At that point, Hedspeth knew that he was in a battle with cancer that he never expected.
“I knew something was wrong, but I wasn’t sure what it was and didn’t think it would be cancer,” Hedspeth said.
The shocking news hit the school within the first weeks of February. Before it reached the school, Hedspeth’s mother felt the hit first.
“You never think that this can happen to your kid. Especially when they’re healthy, they’re athletic, or they work out probably seven days out of the week, Hedspeth’s mother Olivia Vasquez-Deleon said. “They’re doing something physical and you just never think that it can happen to them. So it was I was in shock.”
The news didn’t only hit Hedspeths family hard, but his coaches and friends also took the news badly.
“I broke down when I found out,” Hedspeth’s friend Coda Trevino said.
Now Hedspeth prepares for a long battle that includes medications, chemotherapy, and long trips to Houston where his chemotherapy will take place.
“He’s trying to be strong. I think that he still has a positive mind going into this. At first, I didn’t think that he understood the severity of it or I don’t think that he wanted to accept it,” Vasquez-Deleon said. “Because he had so much going on in his life already that he didn’t want that to stop. But right now, he’s, he’s taking it day by day.”
Hedspeth’s mother acknowledges his strength through the process. He has maintained a strong mind, and a positive attitude through a very hard experience. Vasquez-Deleon also tries to remain strong as she begins to grasp the realities of these battles.
“I think I broke down once in front of him,” Vasquez-Deleon said. And he told me that it was hard for him to be strong, if I’m not strong. So I just take my car rides or on my way to work, or in the bathroom, you know, those are when I have my moments.”
Unfortunately, this is not the first battle the family had with cancer. In 2015, Hedspeth lost his grandfather to cancer. Every game he played would be dedicated to his grandfather, to be the strong kid for him.
“It’s just terrifying news because we’ve gone through that hurt before,” Vasquez-Deleon said.
She continues to be strong through her son’s diagnosis and treatment, but even then, this experience is even harder and she now has to go through it again.
“His grandfather, who basically raised him when he was younger with me. It was like a father figure to him. He passed away from cancer so it’s really hard,” Vasquez-Deleon said.
The family continues to stay strong through the challenges they have faced starting in 2015, and resurfacing now. Through this experience, Vasquez-Deleon urges parents and coaches to educate students about the importance of understanding their bodies.
“I think that parents need to make it normal for kids to be open about their bodies and if they see anything, if they feel a little lump or if they feel something, they need to tell their parents right away because it could be something as serious as this,” Vasquez-Deleon said.
Offering her advice to families going through the same thing, Vasquez-Deleon says the community has consistently shown support. Students like Rae Ramos offer checkups, and coaches such as Coach Anderson have visited to help him through this experience.
“We’re just overwhelmed by all the support that he’s gotten, the people who know him and that I didn’t even know that knew him, or knew, maybe have seen him play over the years,” Vasquez-Deleon said.
While the community continues to support Hedspeth through his fight with cancer, he remains fierce in this long, terrifying, and unknown struggle.
“I would like to thank the Akins community, my family, and friends,” Hedspeth said.
To donate to Darius Hedspeth click here;
Andrew Copeland and Ricardo Ramos-Ramirez contributed to this story.
