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             I come from a family of four sisters and a single working mother. We are a very close family that doesn’t let our guard down very easily. Our family has lived here in Tucson for all our lives. We have gone through many obstacles in our lives and yet have found a way to overcome them all.

            Our family had a friend who was very close to us. His name was Roger Locke he was 68 years old. We lived with him for 4 years at his house in Three Points and kept him company. We (my mom and I and 4 sisters) were like family to him because he lived alone. As the years went on we learned more about him and got closer than ever. I feel like he was another father figure for me. I learned so much from this wise old man in the years we lived with him. My sister and I used to call him “Old Fart” because he was old and he just knew so much more than we did. I like to express to everyone that ever met him that he was my viejito (my old man) which in the Hispanic culture is just a sign of care for a person. I cared about him very much and would take a bullet for him anytime. He means the world to me!! He was always there for me and my family when we needed him; he was there with no hesitation. He was a very caring man.

            He was a very active and strong man for his age. He was always going for checkups at the doctor and was always told he was a very healthy. He was diagnosed with bone cancer and was taking medication to slow the cancer a little. He had arm surgery because he had an accident while at work. He had a current flow through his arm while working on the electricity which impaired his nerves. He was able to recover his arm movements except he couldn’t really extend his arm to the full extent but he never complained about pain. He was an electrician and was always working. He had a saying “Age should not determine what you can do in life”. Therefore he always told me and my sisters to do as much as we could until our bodies couldn’t let us do no more. I think about his words every time times get tough. I know that he is the one that helps us (my family) pull through tough times.

            In March of 2009 he started having really strong pains in his bones which was from the cancer. They doctors told him he didn’t have much time to live that the cancer had advanced to quickly and there was no way that something could be done to stop it.  The doctors told him that he had to be in bed rest. I then spoke with my nana (grandmother) who lives in Mexico and told her the situation. I knew that she would have some sort of remedy to help save him or some sort of medicine that can extend the time he had left to live. She then told me she had heard of these pills that would help stop the continuance of his cancer. She also mentioned to me about an herb that cures cancer. I told her I would buy anything she thought would help. We went to the store and bought two books were it had the description of both of these products and prices. I read that both of these products are all natural and also heard some testimonials that these product do really work. One of the pills are called “Vibora De Cascabel” (Rattle of the Snake) the bottle contains 50 capsules and its cost is $5.50. This pill is to stop the process of degradation of the healthy cells; it regenerates them and stops cancer. This pill is also used for diabetics in severe or slight cases. The second product she told me about was “Hierba Del Cancer” (The Cancer Herb). This herb is to cure cancer. The way the treatment is used is that you boil this plant and drink the water (as if it were a tea). I thought that both of these were something we could try out and see if it would help him. I think when it comes to being sick you should always try a natural product first. This is because it will not only help you but not damage your organs in the long run. I come from a family were we don’t like taking medicine but when they tell us its natural we are always willing to try it.

            I was in Mexico with my nana (grandmother) at the time because I had a dentist appointment. I wanted to postpone this appointment but my mother refused. My mother was in Tucson with Roger at the time taking care of him. I was trying my hardest to get back as soon as possible because I wanted to see him and try to give him these remedies my grandmother had told me about. On March 21st my nana (grandmother) and I were at her home waiting for some news from back in Tucson. I was waiting impatiently to hear something when my mom walks into my nana’s home. She looks up at me and tells me the worst news I could had possibly received that day. She came up to me and hugged me while tears in her eyes. I was confused and all I wanted were answers from her. I wanted to hear that my viejito (my old man) was doing okay, that he was pulling through and he was waiting for me to come back home. Why?!? Yes, Why?!? This was so hard for me to take in and I didn’t understand at the moment why this was all happening so quickly. She finally told me that my viejito (my old man) had not made it. His last words he told my mom were to make sure I got a kiss from him, as he puckered up his lips towards the sky. I know now that he is in a better place and he is watching over me and my family. I Love You, Roger Locke!!

            Thank you for sitting through and reading my story. It wasn’t very easy to bring all these memories back, although I have enjoyed being able to share my story. I hope that people can overcome this as well as I have just learned to accept the facts. You can’t really do anything to bring back a person you truly care about yet you will always have those memories to share with others which are something that is very valuable.