Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Dodi Soza: The Educator
Isaac Newtons theory of relativity: energy is never lost or destroyed simply transferred from one object to the next. One thing is true as ever: Dodi loved football and football loved him. His coaches, his teammates, his family, and friends loved him. His passion radiated this energy that can never be destroyed. A fire has been lit deep inside the soul of each Downey Viking football player. There's a change in their spirits. This hunger to make each moment count. It's a clear dark Friday night as the mist of the fog begins to come across the grass. You feel him through the gentle breeze as he awakens your heart to the spirit of football. You can't see it, but you can feel it. And for the first time, you believe in it. Dodi's energy lives with each life he touched on and off the football field. He is physically a part of us if Newtons theory of relativity is correct. A driving force and the source of his teammates motivation. We cannot see him or touch him, but his energy lives on. Though his time was short lived he has changed his teammates and brought together a community. He is Dodi the educator always reminding us football is life. It was his life and now a part of ours. Dodi Soza will forever be a guardian to the Downey high school Vikings football team. He will be always deeply missed.
Making Each Moment Count
The great John Wooden once wrote, "The true test of a man's character is what he does when no one is watching." Football season is upon us. Every week I sit and watch football games. We thrive on the excitement and yearn for that win against the opposing team. It is no surprise to me when I read the paper to see the usual highlights outlined I see the same players featured and pictured. Every week it is the same unless of course we loose to our opponent, but none the less the same players are featured and pictured. I bring this to your attention because while no one is watching there is one individual who does stand out. He wears a memorial name on his jersey that means nothing to no one except those close to him. He wears that name proudly because of what it represents but no one's curiosity has been peaked to ask him what's the story behind the name? While winning or making that perfect pass for a touchdown or sacking the quarterback is great we forget to give credit to those players making a difference in the community as well as on that field. That's what should also be highlighted and recognized. I was so touched by this individuals character that I decided to write this letter because we need more youths like him to raise awareness and influence one another to be the voice. I know your probably wondering so what's the story behind the name and who is this athlete? So here goes...
If you ever watch a Downey high school football game pay attention to defensive end #42 Chris Blanton. The memorial name he wears is Flor. She was my mother who died 2 years ago from ovarian cancer at the age of 44. So now that you know the athlete, here's the story behind the name. As most teenagers go through that ungrateful I know everything stage my best friend Regina was pulling her hair out trying to get through to her son Chris who wanted to go to parties with his football friends because it was the cool thing to do. I decided to share my story with Chris about my mom whom he never got a chance to meet. I took him to her resting place at Rose Hills and shared her story. My mother Flor had battled ovarian cancer for 11 years she was diagnosed at 33 years, two years after giving birth to my sister. She was amazing, selfless, humorous, outgoing, life of the party, disco diva, best cook ever, and extraordinary mother who always had a smile on her face. She was the kind of mother who hung yellow ribbons on each tree up and down our street to show her support for me and all the troops serving in the military. The kind of mother you take for granted because you don't realize how great she really was until it was already too late. I explained how I lived with that regret of wasting time I had with my mother. It was Christmas day, I was 16 at the time she was diagnosed, I thought I knew it all, denied she was sick, and figured out of sight out of mind. I lived it up never fully understanding what she was really going through and the grief I put her through because I was selfish in only thinking of myself. It's only now after the fact that I realized that parents have your best interest at heart. What I would give to fight with her again. It wasn't until 3 years before she passed that I realized how lucky I was to have her as my mother. It was my day off and she needed a ride to her doctors appointment. This was the first time going with her to a doctors appointment and it was then that I realized how much she had to go through. Everyone in that waiting room was fighting for his or her own life against cancer. They weren't guaranteed tomorrow but they sure were determined in fighting to make it to the next day and the day after that and so forth. Suddenly the lightbulb turned on and I realized how stupid I had been all these years. It was real my mom had cancer and I couldn't hide from that reality anymore. She was dying. That day I apologized for all the pain, grief, and tears I put her through. I made a promise to her that day that I would fight for her until her heart stopped beating. That's exactly what we did we did everything we could to save her life. She was one tough cookie. But sadly, I could see the chemo, the pain medications, and everything else she had going on take a toll on her. I knew we had to have that death talk and knowing how she was, I knew it would not be an easy conversation. I asked her one day, "Momma bear what motivates you to keep fighting?" She must of known where I was going with this because she replied exactly how I expected. "I'm not even dead yet and your already trying to bury me six feet deep." Then she took her phone and showed me a picture of my brother, sister, me, and my kids. "My motivation is time. Time to see my kids and grand babies grow up." I did my best to make up for the time we had lost and when she passed I had no guilt because I made the most of each moment with her. My only regret was that it took me so long to figure it out. I could have had 11 great years versus 3 great years. When I looked over at Chris I could see him balling. I told him that a mothers love is courage, strength, and sacrifice. One day he would understand but he needed to get his act together and listen to his mom because there are people out there in the world like me who wish they had a mother to tell them what to do. That was less than a year ago we had that conversation. Since then, one of his teammates was diagnosed with cancer. Chris has realized that he's tired of seeing young people diagnosed with cancer and no one advocating to raise awareness. This year he chose to represent ovarian cancer and the woman he never got to meet. So he wears her name Flor on his jersey proudly for the courage, strength, and sacrifice she gave. He will be helping to raise funds for the upcoming Run for Her charity to raise awareness, fund research, and hopefully find a cure for ovarian cancer. So when you watch #42 step on and off that football field at that moment he is thinking of all those people fighting for his or her life against cancer and using that as motivation to make each moment count. Chris is proudly wearing his jersey this season using his talents and passion to get the message out there and be the voice. He brings inspiration, awareness, and fight onto the field standing up for what he believes in and inspiring other youths to do the same. We need more stories about athletes like Chris Blanton out there making a difference not just in football but also in the community. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
If you ever watch a Downey high school football game pay attention to defensive end #42 Chris Blanton. The memorial name he wears is Flor. She was my mother who died 2 years ago from ovarian cancer at the age of 44. So now that you know the athlete, here's the story behind the name. As most teenagers go through that ungrateful I know everything stage my best friend Regina was pulling her hair out trying to get through to her son Chris who wanted to go to parties with his football friends because it was the cool thing to do. I decided to share my story with Chris about my mom whom he never got a chance to meet. I took him to her resting place at Rose Hills and shared her story. My mother Flor had battled ovarian cancer for 11 years she was diagnosed at 33 years, two years after giving birth to my sister. She was amazing, selfless, humorous, outgoing, life of the party, disco diva, best cook ever, and extraordinary mother who always had a smile on her face. She was the kind of mother who hung yellow ribbons on each tree up and down our street to show her support for me and all the troops serving in the military. The kind of mother you take for granted because you don't realize how great she really was until it was already too late. I explained how I lived with that regret of wasting time I had with my mother. It was Christmas day, I was 16 at the time she was diagnosed, I thought I knew it all, denied she was sick, and figured out of sight out of mind. I lived it up never fully understanding what she was really going through and the grief I put her through because I was selfish in only thinking of myself. It's only now after the fact that I realized that parents have your best interest at heart. What I would give to fight with her again. It wasn't until 3 years before she passed that I realized how lucky I was to have her as my mother. It was my day off and she needed a ride to her doctors appointment. This was the first time going with her to a doctors appointment and it was then that I realized how much she had to go through. Everyone in that waiting room was fighting for his or her own life against cancer. They weren't guaranteed tomorrow but they sure were determined in fighting to make it to the next day and the day after that and so forth. Suddenly the lightbulb turned on and I realized how stupid I had been all these years. It was real my mom had cancer and I couldn't hide from that reality anymore. She was dying. That day I apologized for all the pain, grief, and tears I put her through. I made a promise to her that day that I would fight for her until her heart stopped beating. That's exactly what we did we did everything we could to save her life. She was one tough cookie. But sadly, I could see the chemo, the pain medications, and everything else she had going on take a toll on her. I knew we had to have that death talk and knowing how she was, I knew it would not be an easy conversation. I asked her one day, "Momma bear what motivates you to keep fighting?" She must of known where I was going with this because she replied exactly how I expected. "I'm not even dead yet and your already trying to bury me six feet deep." Then she took her phone and showed me a picture of my brother, sister, me, and my kids. "My motivation is time. Time to see my kids and grand babies grow up." I did my best to make up for the time we had lost and when she passed I had no guilt because I made the most of each moment with her. My only regret was that it took me so long to figure it out. I could have had 11 great years versus 3 great years. When I looked over at Chris I could see him balling. I told him that a mothers love is courage, strength, and sacrifice. One day he would understand but he needed to get his act together and listen to his mom because there are people out there in the world like me who wish they had a mother to tell them what to do. That was less than a year ago we had that conversation. Since then, one of his teammates was diagnosed with cancer. Chris has realized that he's tired of seeing young people diagnosed with cancer and no one advocating to raise awareness. This year he chose to represent ovarian cancer and the woman he never got to meet. So he wears her name Flor on his jersey proudly for the courage, strength, and sacrifice she gave. He will be helping to raise funds for the upcoming Run for Her charity to raise awareness, fund research, and hopefully find a cure for ovarian cancer. So when you watch #42 step on and off that football field at that moment he is thinking of all those people fighting for his or her life against cancer and using that as motivation to make each moment count. Chris is proudly wearing his jersey this season using his talents and passion to get the message out there and be the voice. He brings inspiration, awareness, and fight onto the field standing up for what he believes in and inspiring other youths to do the same. We need more stories about athletes like Chris Blanton out there making a difference not just in football but also in the community. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
My Inspiration
I've always been good at writing, but never did much with it. As the years go by I find that I enjoy writing pieces about everyday people who do remarkable things. I like looking at stories from different angles and share my views in the process. After my mother died a few years ago I went into a bad depression. Writing saved my life. It have me the courage to share my experiences with others and helped me cope. The people I write about me inspire me to be a better person and to not take life for granted. I share these stories in hopes they will inspire you as well and that you take something from it as I have :) They deserve the recognition of having their story shared with the world. I am their voice. Thank you for taking the time to read this :)
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