Cancer-stricken boy receives military honor

Thomas Larraga-Luna

By HEATHER C. COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com 

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Eight-year-old Thomas Edward Larraga-Luna is pictured (above) with his uncle, Marine Corporal José Miguel Larraga. José had an American flag flown in Thomas’ honor while stationed in Afghanistan. Thomas is seen (top) with the flag. (Staff photo by Heather C. Cox)

“My favorite thing about my uncle is that he is a Marine,” Thomas Edward Larraga-Luna said of his uncle, Marine Corporal José Miguel Larraga.

Even though Thomas sat smiling and playing his Nintendo DS – a gift from Corporal Larraga – while speaking to this writer, the 8-year-old boy is no average third grader.

In November 2011, Thomas was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumor of the left eye. Thomas’ general treatment began in December 2011, with radiation starting the latter part of February and lasting through March.

The bond between Thomas and his uncle is strong enough that Corporal Larraga, a San Benito native and 2010 San Benito High School graduate, shaved his head as “a sign of unity” when Thomas’ hair started falling out as a result of treatments. And their bond was not lessened due to geographical distance between them.

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2012/08/21/cancer-stricken-boy-receives-military-honor/

1 comment

    • Thomas on January 15, 2019 at 9:50 am
    • Reply

    That is so amazing

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