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Six Flags New England
Join us on June 13, 2010
Online registration has closed for this event. You can register in person at the park on the morning of the walk starting at 7:30am. Day of registration fees are $15 per person.
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Walk Ambassador
There were just 14 seconds left in the game. Cathedral, trailing by 22 points, decided to run the ball on the final play of the game and Chicopee answered by sending in a linebacker with a score of his own to settle. In just two days, 16 year old Shawn Cruzado would undergo surgery for testicular cancer, and this would be his last play of the season. Borrowing a page from a Hollywood handbook, he took the field and any hope for a Cathedral comeback, making a spectacular tackle, stopping the play and capping victory for his team. It was a sweet ending for Cruzado, whose first question upon learning he had cancer was: “What about football?”
Shawn Cruzado knew something was wrong. He wasn’t feeling right, and the scar on his left testicle, where he’d had surgery to repair an undescended testicle at birth, was swollen. He told his mother it was so enlarged he couldn’t feel anything there, so Sharleen Alvarado took him to the doctor. Several masses were detected, and Cruzado was at Baystate Medical Center within hours for a sonogram which confirmed the masses. The next day Alvarado and Cruzado met with Dr. Stanley Konefal, pediatric surgeon, and Dr. Matthew Richardson pediatric oncologist. They recommended Cruzado undergo surgery to remove the testicle, not knowing if it was cancerous or not. “I was told you don’t biopsy a testicle because if it was cancerous, it could spread,” says Alvarado. After it was removed, tests came back that it was cancer. “A week after surgery, Shawn had a CT scan and Dr. Richardson called to tell me the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and pelvic area,” said Alvarado. “My first reaction was to run out the door.”
Dr. Richardson, who cares for many young patients through the Baystate Regional Cancer Program, says no one wants to hear their child has cancer, but this particular type is known to have a positive prognosis. “Shawn has Seminoma Testicular Cancer, which is highly curable,” says Dr. Richardson. “It’s usually seen in older men, but it can occur at any age. We have the chance to give Shawn many years of life, playing sports and getting to experience everything a young adult or adult should experience.”
When he was diagnosed, Cruzado only wanted to stay in the game he loves. “I was in shock,” says Cruzado, “because I was never really sick before. When Dr. Richardson told me he didn’t think I could play out the season, I lost it, because all I wanted to do was play football.” The teen asked his doctor if he could play just one more game.
It was a matter of two weeks between the diagnosis and the next game. Dr. Richardson weighed the pros and cons, balancing an aggressive schedule of chemotherapy and side effects with trying to let him live as regular a life as possible. He asked Alvarado what she thought. “I wanted him to be happy and to go into chemo with no regrets” says Alvarado. Dr. Richardson decided to let him play. Cruzado played the Cathedral game Saturday, November 7, 2009 and on Monday, started the first of four rounds of chemo.
“The first couple of weeks were really horrible,” says Cruzado. “I was tired, nauseous, and had no appetite, and ended up missing an entire month of school. By Thanksgiving, I’d lost my hair.” But Cruzado says he’s felt stronger pain than being hit by cancer, and he looks at the experience as a new beginning. “I look at life differently,” says Cruzado. “I’ve seen some pretty crazy things, and now I just appreciate life a lot more.”
“Shawn is a very mature 16-year old,” says Dr. Richardson. “He shows a lot of character for someone his age. This family has been remarkably strong, and while I can’t quantify a positive outlook, I know its effects are immeasurable.”
From the beginning, Cruzado was open about his disease. “I told my friends what was going on, because I knew it would hurt them too,” says Cruzado.
His story was also picked up in the media, featured in print, online and broadcast reports. Letters of support poured in—from friends, fellow cancer survivors and kids all over western Massachusetts who were moved by this remarkable teenager.
Cruzado completed his last round of chemo in January 2010, and looks forward to getting back to the football field. “I want to get back into sports, and I also want to reach out to other kids. I was never really a church person before, but when I was in the hospital I started praying and asking God to help me fight this. I’m strong and I’m fighting, and that’s what I want to tell other kids- don’t be afraid, and don’t give up.”
“I’m very proud of him,” says Alvarado. “He’s grown so much, and this experience has made us stronger as a family.”
About the Hospital
Baystate Children’s Hospital provides the most advanced medical care in a family centered environment that focuses on the needs of kids of all ages. Baystate Children’s Hospital serves the health care needs of children throughout western Massachusetts. Our 167 bed facility provides complete critical care programs including the region’s only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Units as well as pediatric and newborn inpatient services. Our Children’s Hospital Surgery Center, Emergency Room just for kids, Pediatric Trauma Program, and outpatient specialty services extend the distinct focus of service to children.
About the Park
Six Flags is regarded as the undisputed leader in thrill ride innovation and at Six Flags New England we’re taking that reputation to the next level. Six Flags New England is the best destination for family fun with children’s favorites like Wiggles World, Thomas Town and Looney Tunes Movie Town. Starting Memorial Day, Glow in the Park nighttime parade returns with its state-of-the-art floats, incredible light design and Cirque-style music. New in 2010 is Mr. Six’s Splash Island, a children’s haven consisting of ten family style cabanas, a 30,000 gallon shaded wave pool, an interactive lazy river, performing characters, parties and interactive games. Johnny Rockets is also now serving guests for the first time in Hurricane Harbor. New England’s largest water park, Hurricane Harbor, is included in park admission and boasts two 500,000 gallon wave pools, more than a dozen slides, Hooks Lagoon a children’s play area, and Typhoon water coaster. There is no end to the fun with an array of entertaining shows, free concerts and special events. Don’t miss Fright Fest in October!
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