Courage for Santiago

The Zimmer boys and their dad love science fiction, tabletop war games, and Pokémon. Scott’s a university librarian, and Sophia homeschools 17-year-old Andrés and 11-year-old Santiago. Santiago seemed low energy on a particularly hot July day. Then he was screaming in pain. After rushing to the emergency room, the family was shocked to learn that a tumor on Santiago’s liver had ruptured. They’d never even known of the tumor, which had likely been growing since his birth. It was cancer.

Sophia recalls asking the doctor, “Is he going to live? I can handle anything else.” The answer was yes. But Santiago would require multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. In the most challenging times, the Ronald McDonald House helped the Zimmers stay strong together for Santiago. This game-loving boy wanted his family with him around the clock in his real life battle against cancer. Santiago and his family needed all the courage they could muster.

There’s no place for fear when you’re with your child. If your kid sees you afraid, they will be, too. You’ve got to be as present as you can.” —Sophia Zimmer