The whole town of Rockdale just about has joined Team Alex.
From the owners of Xtreme Fit & Hit to the Rockdale Independent School District with Classic Bank, Brett’s Backyard Bar-B-Que and some others joining in supporting young Alex Sandoval in her quest against a rare form of cancer.
“Today (Jan. 28) has been an emotional one. I could have never dreamed to see everyone show so much love and support for Alex. I could literally feel it,” Alex’s mother, Terri York-Sandoval, wrote on Facebook. “I’ve cried so many times today feeling the overwhelming prayers for her. Alex has been weak the last two days and sleeps a good bit, but every time she opened her eyes she wanted to see all of you. Just her smiling today was amazing. From the bottom of my heart, as the cake lady, the friend and as a mom, thank you all. I can never say thank you enough for making today so amazing.”
Schools in the districts of Rockdale, Milano, Thorndale and Cameron all honored Alex’s fight by wearing T-shirts Jan. 28 in Tie Dye Day for Alex, who is 10-years-old and is currently being treated for cancer of the thalamus which is in the center of the brain.
“An amazing, and colorful, display of unity and an outpouring of love descended on Rockdale and surrounding communities today (Jan. 28). A fifth-grader at Rockdale Intermediate School was recently diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. When her principal, Kathy Pelzel, was speaking to her mother about what the school could do to show support for Alex, her mother, stated ‘the color of this thing is gray, and Alex is not a gray person—she is a tie dye girl, so rock your tie dye for her’,” Rockdale ISD’s Rebecca King wrote in an email to The Rockdale Reporter.
“So Pelzel and the district shared an event on Facebook “Tie Dye Day for Alex! - Jan 28” and it took off,” she said. “Soon after other area schools and communities joined in from Thorndale, Milano and Cameron and now all of Milam County is sporting beautiful bright colors to show their support for Alex. Businesses in town have joined in by posting photos, adding fundraisers and donating percentages of sales from today to the family. One can search Facebook for the hashtag #AlexStrong and scroll through pages of photos of Alex’s friends, classmates and even well-wishers she has never met.
“As one supporter on Facebook said after seeing the many shirts today, ‘Rockdale is the best community to live in,’ which Alex’s grandmother replied, ‘You are so right! Rockdale is an awesome town to live in’.”
And it is not just Milam County that is lifting up Alex in hopes and prayers. “A woman from Germany sent me a picture rocking her Alex T-shirt,” York-Sandavol said.
She has also heard from people around the state and nation who are thinking about Alex at this time.
But back in Rockdale, well-wishers have been flooding York-Sandavol’s Facebook page with good thoughts.
Her page is full of comments such as “Precious Alex is loved by so many. You are so loved too, Terri, for being such a wonderful mother. Our whole community is praying for your beautiful little girl and your family. Love you dearly,” one woman wrote.
Others offered prayers for a return to health and to keep the faith with words such as: “Continuing to pray for Alex and all of you. This community is behind you.”
Not all the well-wishes are friends either. Plenty of the comments came from people touched by the plight and sending hope: “I don’t know you, but please know there are strangers out here praying for your beautiful little girl.”
First signs
Alex first noticed something was not right late last year. She was taken to Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin.
Doctors puzzled over what was wrong with the child and came to an initial conclusion. “She did really well in surgery and her first treatment. We still don’t have a definite diagnosis, but doctors believe it’s autoimmune encephalitis,” York-Sandoval wrote in a November 2020 post. But in a Jan. 21 post, York-Sandoval revealed another diagnosis. “We did not get the news we prayed so hard for. Alex has been diagnosed with level 4 glioma of the thalamus,” she wrote.
The doctors at the time told her the condition was inoperable and incurable, she said. “Apparently Alex being Alex has to be unique. She has never been sick or broken a bone. Actually she is crazy strong, has an immune system that even after doctors gave all they had, it didn’t phase her. Unfortunately it isn’t autoimmune. It’s a rare cancer,” she wrote. “We are working on a treatment plan to give her the best quality of life. All of the doctors say they are setting no limits on Alex as she has proven to be completely something they haven’t seen before.” Alex is resting a lot now, her mother said.
“Her motor skills are affected,” she said. “Walking is hard for her. I help her.” But her mind is still strong, her mom said. “She knows everything,” York-Sandoval said. Alex is an A student , her mom said.
The T-shirts at the heart of the Tie Dye Day for Alex were created by Kaitlynne Blake Schnerr, who is a family friend.
Funds for the fight
There is a catfish fry at Brett’s barbecue restaurant planned for Feb. 6 from 4 to 6 p.m., in the back parking lot.
All proceeds raised will go towards medical cost for Alex as she goes through cancer treatment at MD Anderson in Houston.
There was another fundraiser last week at Brett’s Backyard Bar-B-Que and it was a success, according to the owner.
“I have witnessed something special today in Rockdale,” Brett Boren wrote on his Facebook page. “What a blessing for everyone coming together to support Alex. Small town Rocks.”
Account apps have been set up to contribute to the cost of medical care. The apps are Venmo: @Terri-York-Sandoval, CashApp: $ATOECC and Zelle: atoecc@gmail.com/
There is also an account for Alex at Classic Bank here in Rockdale. Just call the bank at 512-446-9444, mention Team Alex and make your donation.
Rockdale Signs & Photography is also raising funds for Alex’s medical expenses.
The business has yard signs with stakes for $15 and heart-shaped car and helmet decals for sale. The business phone number is 512-446-3346.
A mother’s hope
“I know and hear what the doctors are saying about her and they are brilliant at what they do. But in this journey I have found faith that I didn’t know I had. God tells me this isn’t the end of her story,” York-Sandoval said. “She is strong. “I completely believe that and that she is here to make a difference. There is no giving up. This is ours.”
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