Nothing can stop me

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ariel D. Delgado
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Imagine feeling the best you've ever felt. You are physically fit, you are at the top of your game and you feel like you're at your best, then one day finding out your life is at risk.

That is how Mario Gloria, a local Del Rio business man and all around sportsman, felt the day he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that originates in your lymphatic system, in his left groin a week after participating in Laughlin's 2013 Adventure Race IX.

The race began with a four-mile run across Laughlin followed by a 23-mile bike ride to Lake Amistad and concluded with teams boarding rafts to navigate a mile-long course at Laughlin's Southwinds Marina with mystery events throughout the course. Gloria completed the race at two hours and 33 minutes.

Gloria had gone to the doctor because of a lump on his left groin that he noticed three weeks prior to scheduling his medical appointment. At first, Gloria believed the lump to be a hernia, but his doctor tested him for infections and all had negative results. The doctor then biopsied and tested the mass, which tested positive for diffused large B-cell lymphoma.

"There's no preparing for a cancer diagnosis. I was devastated," said Gloria. "A lot of things went through my head. How advanced is it? Am I going to die? Will I see my son graduate high school? I didn't know how to feel. It was very hard for me."

Luckily, after having a bone marrow biopsy, his doctor was able to determine that his cancer was not spreading and was only in its first stage.

"I'm glad I went to the doctor when I did," said Gloria. "A lot of people see something on their body and think it's nothing, but if I had thought that way, I may not be here today."

Gloria was used to living a fit life and he wasn't going to let his cancer get in the way of that.

"I was in great shape, probably the best shape I've ever been in my entire life prior to getting diagnosed, I didn't want to stop," said Gloria. "I still believe that was a large part in helping me get through it."

July of 2013, Gloria started his rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. During his treatment, he continued to train. Whether he was running, bicycling or playing tennis, the 40-year-old still continued to push himself to the limit.

"Everyone, including my doctor, kept telling me not to," said Gloria. "But I felt good. I was very stubborn."

Although Gloria's condition did not allow him to lift weights, he still continued his running, cycling and even tennis.

Gloria, the local tennis player who ranked number one in the state of Texas in 2004 and 2005, played and won two tennis tournaments while undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

"It was not until the third round of chemotherapy when it really hit me and really brought me down," said Gloria. "I got really sick."

Although Gloria's chemotherapy brought him down, he continued his fight.

"I wasn't going to give up," said Gloria.

After 10 months of treatment, four rounds of chemotherapy and 25 rounds of radiation, Gloria was officially cleared of cancer March 12, 2014.

"I felt such a relief," said Gloria. "But I knew God wouldn't give me something I couldn't handle."

Gloria's victory was just another achievement to him because a month later he started training for Laughlin's 2014 Adventure Race.

With only two weeks to train, Gloria participated in the 6-mile run and cycling portion, riding from Laughlin to Lake Amistad, Gloria finished with a two-hour and 33-minute time.

Having only been three month since Gloria was labeled "cancer free," he is back to his intense training. He has even started riding a bike to work, giving him an extra 100 miles a week of cycling.

"I am always up for a challenge," said Gloria. "Nothing can stop me."