Mason: Superhero with Superpowers
Mason “Ace” Martinez and his family moved into The Heights in May 2016 from Tampa, Fl. As he made the move, his hope was to meet new friends at Hardy Oak Elementary and tackle a new challenge of trying out for a swim team, the Hammerheads.
In true Heights/Hardy Oak fashion, friends were made and his teacher, Ms. Anne Tiller, made an end of school year transition a spunky and welcoming experience! Ace was overwhelmed by new friends like Brandon Martinez and Josh Miyamoto. He even made the Hammerhead Swim Team, and became one of many kids that benefit from Coach Erin Larsen’s fair and supportive love she provides. Life for this seven year old seemed to be flying high, but something lurked and began slowing down this Superhero …
On June 21st, Mason was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, and this cancer of the blood had become like kryptonite to this Pokémon warrior with a huge heart and energetic smile. His summer dreams of swimming, playing soccer, sleep overs and nerf gun battles turned into a fight for his life, while his bone marrow was occupied by 93% and his blood by 50%.
Since then, Mason has spent over 35 nights in the hospital enduring two bone marrow sampling procedures, hundreds of doses of chemotherapy and over 15 outpatient lumbar punctures to test his brain and spinal fluid for any signs of “kryptonite”. On July 19th, Ace was enjoying a calm afternoon between appointments when he experienced a seizure and was rushed to the hospital. The battle of good and evil inside his small body had caused a blood clot in his brain, and his body used the seizure like the Avenger signal to assemble the right team to help with this new battle. The blood clot has decreased with his strength and the commitment of his mom to provide two daily blood thinning shots and anti-seizure medication.
Throughout his struggles, his family and this Heights/Hardy Oak community has loved and supported him in so many ways, and on July 28th, Ace reached full remission! Although his treatment plan is a 3 year journey of chemotherapy and microscopic flush, for now … the “kryptonite” cannot be traced in his Superhero body!
His parents, Jeff and Stacy Martinez, have been so thankful of the community outreach and his little brother, Maddox “MadDog” Martinez, is so happy to see his favorite superhero cancer free and gaining his powers (and his hair) back!
Mason “Ace” Martinez believes in good over evil, he trust in God and for now walks his path cancer free with his family’s shield of courage: Strong, Happy, Respectful!
Favorite Superhero: Captain America
