11-year-old cancer survivor to run bases at South Bend Cubs game in support of cancer initiative

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - As the summer continues, we are highlighting the kids who take the field as part of the “Home Run for Life” initiative.

It gives kids who have been treated at Beacon Children’s Hospital an opportunity to run the bases and meet the South Bend Cubs players.

This week, we’re spotlighting an 11-year-old baseball player whose story is inspiring, to say the least.

Gabe Rodriguez is an energetic, athletic young kid. It’s a big week for him because he started his first day of middle school, his birthday is only a few days away, and he’ll be on the field for Friday night’s South Bend Cub’s game.

What’s so unique about his recovery story is that he hasn’t just been cancer free for years now and defied all odds. But with the help of his mom, he’s giving back to kids who are going through the same things he’s battled himself.

Gabe’s favorite school subject is social studies, and in his free time he loves to play baseball and sleep!

“He’s athletic, he’s kind, he’s a great big brother, he has a great happy spirit. He’s my big helper, he’s definitely my first born, you know, mama’s boy,” said Katie Rodriguez, Gabe’s mother.

He may be full of energy and running the bases. But at just 20 months old, a shocking discovery was made about Gabe’s health.

He was diagnosed with Leukemia, and that’s when his long battle with cancer started.

His mother, Katie, called it a very scary time and he was put on a four-year treatment plan.

After a tough battle and many hospital visits, spinal taps and chemotherapy, he was finally considered cancer free at age 5.

“We celebrated big with a Disney Cruise and big party,” Katie said. “And then he’s been in remission that entire time. And right now, we’re going on, like I said, he’s been considered completely cured and we revisit the hospital every year for checkups.”

But his recovery journey isn’t celebrated alone. Now, he helps other kids who are going through the same things he did.

Following his initial diagnosis, Katie started an initiative in 2016 to raise money and give back. It’s called Cleats versus Cancer.

Every spring, they collect donations and money for toys and other gifts to give to kids at the children’s hospital.

Now that Gabe is healthy, he comes along to the store to pick out some gifts he thinks those kids would like.

“We just get the little thing like the Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels, coloring books, we get those kinds of things to load up the toy box so when the kids come out of their chemo treatments like I mentioned or their spinal taps or just having a hard day, they can grab toys from the toy box,” Katie said.

They also give families gift cards to restaurants, including Gabe’s favorite — Raising Canes!

Katie says Cleats versus Cancer raised $4,000 this year.

If you want to learn more about Cleats versus Cancer initiative and how to donate, click here.