Maverick County Veterans Unite to Help Young Boy with Leukemia
By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Mark is a spirited 8 year old boy who has all of his life ahead of him with a whole world to see and explore. Young Mark Flores has experienced a set-back in his life as he has just finished his induction month into treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia(ALL).
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is a rare form of leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells characterized by excess lymphoblast’s, which is diagnosed in over 4,000 persons in the United States on a yearly basis. Two thirds (approximately 2,500) of them are children.
The overall outlook of young Mark Flores’ recovery and treatment is optimistic as medical advances have increased in recent years but the reality is that he will need to be treated for this illness until 2017, a three year process.
The Eagle Pass Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) recently held a fund raiser in support of young Mark Flores to help with the medical expenses amassed from Doctor and medical treatments.
On December 20, 2013, the Eagle Pass VFW and Maverick County veterans organizations gathered and presented the family of Mark Flores with a check for the amount of $1,753 dollars to help with some of the costly medical expenses stemming from Mark’s specialized medical treatment.
Mark’s stepmother, Krystal Flores, was brought to tears by the generosity of local veterans and their families and thanked them for their humanitarian efforts to help their beloved child, Mark.
Presenting the $1,753 donation check to Mark Flores’ family were Eagle Pass VFW Commander Facundo Ibarra, Vet Corps Director Benjamin Estrada, and Maverick County Veterans Affairs Director Ismael Castillo, who were glad that local veterans had taken an interest in helping out a young Eagle Passan such as Mark Flores with his specialized medical treatment costs and battle against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
“We are honored and humbled to help Mark in any way we can in this difficult time and we will continue to do so. That is why we are here to serve and help our community in any way possible,” stated Benjamin Estrada. “VFW members and their families wish young Mark a health recovery and all of God’s blessings in his lengthy medical treatment,” said VFW Commander Facundo Ibarra. “Maverick County veterans once again have demonstrated their love for this Country by helping those in most in need in the community like young Mark Flores and pray a speedy recovery,” said Maverick County Veterans Affairs Director Ismael Castillo.
Mark is the son of Valerie and Joey Flores and his entire family feel positive that he will overcome his ailment. The Flores family thanks the community and all the Veterans from the bottom of their hearts for the caring and humanitarian support they have provided to young Mark Flores. Mark is being treated at the Children’s Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.
