{"id":71242,"date":"2023-12-20T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=71242"},"modified":"2023-12-22T00:14:47","modified_gmt":"2023-12-22T00:14:47","slug":"a-father-soldier-and-cancer-survivor-army-reserve-nco-honored-by-washington-commanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=71242","title":{"rendered":"A father, soldier and cancer survivor; Army Reserve NCO honored by Washington Commanders"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, works out, Nov. 15, 2023 at Fort Belvoir, Va. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez)
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\n U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, stands next to a Washington Commanders logo at FedEx Field Oct. 5, 2023, North Englewood, Md. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez)
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\n U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, holds a sign at FedEx Field Oct. 5, 2023, North Englewood, Md. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez)
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\n U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, stands beside a former Washington Commanders football player at FedEx Field Oct. 5, 2023, North Englewood, Md. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez)
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\n U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, stands outside of U.S. Army Reserve Center VA020 May 18, 2021 at Fort Belvoir, Va. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez)
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\n U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, runs on a track during an Army Combat Fitness Test, May 15, 2021 at Fort Belvoir, Va. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez)
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\n U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, holds his daughter Isabella while undergoing chemotherapy, Feb. 10, 2019 at his home in Norcross, Ga. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez)
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\n U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, poses with his wife Taisha and his daughter Isabella after undergoing his fourth round of chemotherapy, Mar. 10, 2019 at a restaurant in Duluth, Ga. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez)
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\n U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, walks with his daughter Isabella while undergoing chemotherapy, Aug. 1, 2020, near his home in Norcross, Ga. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez)
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\n U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, holds his daughter Isabella while visiting Castillo San Felipe del Morro after being declared in remission from his cancers, Jun. 14, 2021, in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game Oct. 5, 2023, at FedEx Field in North Englewood, Md. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez)
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\n U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, holds his daughter Isabella while undergoing chemotherapy, Feb. 18, 2019 at his home in Norcross, Ga. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez)
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FORT BELVOIR, Va. \u2013 Cancer is a silent killer. Often difficult to diagnose and truly insidious, the disease touches many. It leaves in its wake suffering, pain and often death. Cancer was the last thing on U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant Francisco Marti Gonzalez\u2019s mind as he prepared to welcome a daughter with his wife Taisha in 2018.<\/p>\n

We often think of cancer as a disease that afflicts those in middle age or the elderly. This was not the case for Marti, as he received a diagnosis as a 24-year-old sergeant. Pain in his lower back and groin area prompted him to get checked. The human resources noncommissioned officer from Utuado, Puerto Rico, was serving his first Active Guard Reserve program tour, in Georgia.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter I was told I had a mass, I understood that could be testicular cancer. My first worry was if I\u2019d live long enough to see my daughter born and grown up.\u201d Follow up tests confirmed the diagnosis. It was testicular cancer. While Marti had answers, he also faced uncertainty. \u201cI didn\u2019t know what\u2019s next in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marti was immediately scheduled for surgery. Doctors removed his right testicle under general anesthesia in November 2018. He would start and complete multiple rounds of chemotherapy.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing through cancer treatment was the worst time of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Less than a year later, Marti was told that the cancer had spread to other parts of his body. \u201cThey told me I had testicular cancer that had went to the lymph nodes in my back \u2013 and my lungs.\u201d<\/p>\n

In May 2019 surgeons removed one nodule from his left lung.<\/p>\n

This time \u2013 finally \u2013 good news. Tumor pathology showed that the cancer had died. It was confirmation that the cancer in his body was gone.<\/p>\n

The road to recovery continued though. Marti had to train his lungs and used a machine he would breathe into as part of his resistance training. His lung had far less capacity than before.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe psychological shock of losing almost 30 pounds and losing a bunch of strength really affected me. I wasn\u2019t even half as strong as I was before starting treatment.\u201d Aside from losing strength, Marti experienced a plethora of other adverse effects. \u201cAt some point my skin turned yellow.\u201d<\/p>\n

During this time, Marti welcomed his child \u2013 a daughter, Isabella. His family provided him with purpose and added to his will to survive. \u201cMy plan was to be a survivor and live on. To always do the right things in life. To be able to see my kids grow up. To be a father and a husband.\u201d<\/p>\n

And survive he has. Marti is now almost five years into remission. While that chapter of his life is behind him, his drive to excel and push himself physically remains paramount. \u201cI scored a 579 on my last ACFT. I work on it just to prove to myself I can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Staff Sgt. Marti, was recently recognized by the region\u2019s hometown NFL team \u2013 the Washington Commanders.<\/p>\n

The Washington Commanders organization honored Marti and other cancer survivors with military ties during a home game October 5, 2023, at FedEx Field in North Englewood, Maryland.<\/p>\n

More of a baseball fan, Marti had never been to an American Football game before. \u201cWhen I saw the structure and size of the football stadium, I was impressed. You see it on TV and have an idea of the size, but it\u2019s really something to see it in person.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team brought the invited cancer survivors out during half time. The large stadium screen displayed pictures of them during their cancer journeys as they walked down the field. Survivors were divided by types of cancer \u2013 lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, pediatric cancers, urological cancers, breast cancer, and others.<\/p>\n

The large group of survivors moved in unison wearing colored shirts. Everyone was linked inextricably by their experiences with cancer. The pain, diagnosis, battles, and victories.<\/p>\n

Elderly and middle-aged cancer survivors were well represented. What struck Marti the hardest though, were the young.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were some children that had survived cancer too. I cried seeing them. When urology told me I had testicular cancer I knew what I was facing \u2013 I was an adult. A little kid has to fight this terrible sickness without really knowing what\u2019s going on. It\u2019s really sad that they have this happen to them at such a young age. I saw their innocence.\u201d<\/p>\n

While those on the field tasted a sense of victory, the Washington Commanders would lose to the Chicago Bears 20 \u2013 40.<\/p>\n

Marti remembers that day fondly. \u201cThe game was really fun. There was such energy. The fans were really part of the game. In baseball its more quiet, this football game was a huge deal. It\u2019s definitely the most energetic sports experience I\u2019ve ever been part of.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked what he wishes more knew about cancer, he said this – \u201cAlways pay attention to your body. Young males \u2013 examine yourself. This can affect you starting as young as 16.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you ever find yourself in the situation where you\u2019re diagnosed with cancer or any other serious disease, stay positive. I always prayed and asked God to allow me to have a second chance.\u201d And a second chance he did receive. Marti continues to be there for Isabella, Taisha and son Daniel \u2013 born in 2022.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Francisco Marti Gonzalez, a human resources sergeant assigned to the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, works out, Nov. 15, 2023 at Fort Belvoir, Va. The Washington Commanders organization honored cancer survivors with military ties during a home game. (Photo courtesy of Staff […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":71244,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=71242"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71256,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71242\/revisions\/71256"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/71244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=71242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=71242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=71242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}