Miguel Lavarro
Life has a remarkable way of unfolding in unexpected ways. In Sep 2023, I competed at AO2 in California, earning a medal and undergoing routine USADA drug testing.
In early Nov, I was shocked to be flagged for an anti-doping violation and suspended from weightlifting. USADA recommended I seek medical attention due to an elevated HCG result, a potential indicator for a serious underlying medical condition. Within a week, a doctor’s tests revealed that my markers had doubled and a second opinion confirmed the diagnosis I feared most – testicular cancer.
The ensuing months were a whirlwind of hospital visits, surgeries and continuous tests. I was never alone – my incredible support system, family and friends, stood by me unwaveringly. In Apr 2024, I received the “NED” (No Evidence of Disease) status, signaling a significant victory, yet my journey wasn’t over. I entered the ongoing monitoring phase with cautious optimism.
After five months of inactivity following my orchiectomy and RPLND surgeries, I was cleared to return to training in May. Though the journey ahead is long, my goal is to compete again by the end of this year – a testament to resilience and determination that I hope to accomplish.
Throughout this ordeal, my wife’s wisdom has been my guiding light. She once told me: “In life, we each get dealt different cards. It’s up to us how we play them.” Life’s challenges are inevitable, but how we respond defines our journey. I choose to face each day with hope, strength and the unwavering belief that I can persevere through any hardship.
I’m Jaco and I hit the medical jackpot! Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma decided to have a wild party in my body, complete with tumors as uninvited guests. They showed up on every organ, including a monster-sized mediastinal mass resembling a deflated softball.
For three long years, my life became a never-ending carnival ride of chemotherapy, bone marrow biopsies, and spinal taps. I practically had a VIP pass to the hospital.
But In the midst of all this craziness, I’ve set some pretty lofty goals in weightlifting. My dream is to make Team USA and become a living testament that no matter how ridiculously tough life gets, sheer perseverance can triumph over any obstacle.
I’m Roman and when I was was 2 years old I was diagnosed with stage 5 Wilms cancer, it infected both of my kidneys and spread to my lungs, I went under intense, chemo and radiation. Doctor’s gave me no hope in making it pretty much telling my parents to plan for a funeral it’s not looking good. In the battle with cancer I lost a whole kidney and half of the other one, and my lungs are scared up from the radiation I took to the chest. Proving every doctor wrong I beat cancer