Dear Jacob,
Hello, my name is Daniel Chavarria. I am a current student at the University of Texas at El Paso but I’m spending my summer at UT Austin as part of the BME CUReS Cancer REU. Coming into the program I thought I had an idea of what cancer was. I know the biological factors and aspects of cancer, the limitations of its treatments, the side effects of the chemotherapies and how each day we are making more and more progress in the fight against cancer. But I had completely neglected one aspect of cancer, the people it affects.
Hearing about your story and how it has affected not only your family but the family of your close friend has really put things into perspective. I have been blessed that no one close to me has been diagnosed with cancer, I consider myself lucky.
You have demonstrated a great deal of courage and determination.
I know it’s extremely hard losing a loved one at such a young age. Just like you, my grandmother passed away from idiopathic cardiomegaly when I was eight years old. Things are never the same when you lose a loved one.
That is why I admire your drive and boldness as you take on your ride.
As you set forth in your route I too will be making a journey of my own, immersing myself in a research intensive summer program that hopes to contribute to the fight against cancer from a biomedical engineering standpoint. Although I may work many hours and may never see results of my work here at UT Austin I am sure of one thing. Thanks to you I have found one more reason as to why I want to pursue a career in research.
Sincerely,
Daniel Chavarria, UTEP
Jacob Lozano is a UT Austin Senior in Biology and currently riding to Alaska on the Rockies team.
