Rising FC surprises family of Phoenix Children’s patient with new car
Sep 21, 2021, 10:19 AM | Updated: 11:59 am
Phoenix Rising FC surprised Phoenix Children’s patient Raymundo Parrasmundo and his family with a new car at halftime of Saturday’s game against Orange County SC.
The surprise was part of the team’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Night in partnership with Phoenix Children’s and Carvana.
Phoenix midfielder James Musa appeared in a video to deliver the surprise to the family.
Our favorite moment from last night: surprising Raymundo and his family with the help of @Carvana and @PhxChildrens!#RisingAsOne | #ChildhoodCancerAwareness pic.twitter.com/e8skJFD8aN
— Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) September 19, 2021
Raymundo was first diagnosed with leukemia when he was 2 years old, according to the Phoenix Children’s website. His leukemia relapsed three times since the original diagnosis. Some infections became life-threatening, leaving Raymundo too weak to receive any form of treatment.
He became eligible for Phoenix Children’s CAR-T program at age 10. The program offers cellular therapy for patients with relapsed leukemia. This therapy is usually reserved for patients when other treatment options fail.
Raymundo’s condition began to improve just months after starting cellular therapy. After undergoing a bone marrow treatment, something that he was not well enough to undergo in the past, the family is celebrating remission.
Raymundo, now 12 years old, hopes to be able to play soccer in addition to going to school.