Meet Oscar

Meet our newest hero, Oscar! 18-year-old Oscar was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in August 2024, but that didn't stop him from fighting through it all with a smile.

The minute we walked into his hospital room earlier this year in May, there was a bright, buzzing energy we could feel. Oscar and his family were all gathered in one room and there was such a lightness to them. They told us it was Oscar's final stay in the hospital; he had finished chemotherapy. 

The energy was so light, that Aidan and Oscar had the whole room laughing when they pulled up their respective pant legs and compared battle scars.

It was truly such a beautiful moment to experience with Oscar and his family. Oscar's sister, Alicia, even coordinated a local coffee and matcha cart there as a celebration for his last chemo admission.

In a gesture that had us all in tears, Oscar gave Aidan his Roman Catholic Holy Infant of Atocha pendant, very pendant that helped Oscar throughout his cancer journey. He wanted Aidan to have it for the football season—which admittedly was difficult for Aidan to accept, but Oscar insisted.

And that is just a small a glimpse into Oscar's soul. Him and his family are selfless, devoted, and truly kind human beings. They are so lucky to have each other through the ups and the downs.

Today is dedicated to Oscar.

Just as we channel Oscar's fighting spirit into our everyday lives, Aidan carried Oscar's mantra into the Lions vs Chiefs game, "Live to fight another day."

Oscar's Story:

In June 2024, Oscar was at an afterschool picnic with his fellow classmates to celebrate the end of the school year and tripped while playing soccer. He came home limping and believed it was a minor injury that would go away in a couple days. Oscar went to work in Washington for the summer while trying to deal with the pain that never went away. Oscar is a persistent kid and pushed through the pain, but come August he knew something was actually wrong. After an MRI test, he received the call saying they found a tumor. 

August 29, 2024 will always be the day that changed all our lives. Oscar was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a tumor right above his knee. Months and many chemo treatments later, he had a 6-hour surgery to remove the tumor which involved a full knee replacement and parts of his femur. 

After the call things moved quickly. Oscar spent his 17th birthday and first day of his senior year doing scans. What was meant to be the best year of high school quickly changed to spending days at the hospital trying to keep up with school work, which he would do on days that he felt better—and in the beginning, that was very rare.

With Oscar’s strong mindset he pushed through all the difficulties and was our backbone. His love for football was the main thing that helped push through those bad days at the hospital. Even when he was feeling bad, he would talk the nurses ears off about his love for the Lions and how he got to meet one of his favorite players, Jahmyr Gibbs, a day before starting his first round of chemotherapy. Even between chemotherapies he managed to still attend Lions games and cheer on his team. 

During his time at Mott Children's Hospital, he was eagerly waiting to meet Aidan during one of his stays and was able to top off his last week of chemo meeting Aidan. Just one day later on May 9th, it was Oscar’s final day at the hospital. He was able to walk the long hallway one last time as a patient surrounded by our family and friends and the amazing nurses and staff.

Since then, Oscar was able to walk across the stage with his friends at his high school graduation, spent the summer in Mexico with his family, started college and learned how to drive. He sees all hospital days a set back, but now is adapting to his new life and the difficulties that come with it.

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Oscar is a living testament to having utmost faith in the midst of fear. He has inspired us to do the same. That's why he's our hero.

Love Always,

Team Hutch