Every person battling cancer deserves a Badge of Courage for their incredible strength, positivity, and unwavering spirit. Christian Lopez, a 13-year-old boy and Stage 4 cancer survivor exemplifies this bravery as one of Dorchester, MA’s, bravest on his own personal battlefield.
Christian, who has the utmost admiration for the military, received a true honor that he will never forget. Twenty soldiers led by his aunt, Mariana Shorter, a retired master sergeant in the Army, marched through his neighborhood up to his doorstep and honored him with a salute of a lifetime.
Shorter marched front and center and tearfully saluted her nephew, saying: “We just wanted to thank Chris for fighting one of the biggest battles ever in life. Chris, I salute you. You are a true, true, true soldier.”
Christian's battle reminds us of the bravery of other young cancer survivors, such as Calysta, who continues her strength through singing and Ellie who kept on dancing and went to the prom in a gorgeous new dress.
The soldiers personally thanked Christian and presented him with his own Army Combat uniform, as well as the honorary badges that were given to each soldier in combat. The moment made him very emotional.
The definition of a hero is all encompassing as it extends far beyond the battlefield. Christian’s mother, Christina Ribeiro, witnessed her son’s courage firsthand.
"He is the only child I've seen who after chemo and radiation wants to go outside and play baseball,” she told ABC News. “Nothing kept him down. He never gave up."
To top off the extraordinary moment, Mayor Walsh proclaimed May 16 “Christian Lopez Day.”
Please SHARE this heartwarming story with other cancer survivors and those who are continuing their courageous fight!
