Belen is Sebastian Strong
Nearly a year ago - December 29, 2016 - Christopher Columbus student Sebastian Ortiz passed away from cancer.
He had been diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in October of 2015. Since his passing, Sebastian’s parents established the SebastianStrong Foundation to honor their son and to increase awareness and funding for childhood cancers.
“After a tremendous battle which included surgery, and different types of treatments/chemotherapy drugs, we came to the realization that we had nothing other than more chemotherapy with no prospects of a cure, just more hospital time,” said Oscar Ortiz, Sebastian’s dad. “We then made the most difficult decision of our lives, to come home and await the inevitable. Within two weeks, Sebastian passed away in his sleep.”
On December 12, Sebastian’s dad spoke to our senior class. Sebastian would have been a senior. He shared stories of his son and how he was a cross country athlete and had plans for his future. He shared with them how quickly life changes and the strength and faith Sebastian had during his fight.
“Anyone who saw Sebastian could see he was sick, but if you just talked to Sebastian, you’d never know,” said Ortiz. “He never asked why me? He lived his entire life and through this entire battle with a positive attitude and fought until the very end. He was a true warrior.”
“Sebastian’s story and what his parents are doing to help others is inspiring” said Carlos Bravo '86, Alumni Association Executive Director. “The truth is that the rivalry between Belen and Columbus is a lot of fun, but as these young men grow up, they learn that the rivalry is more of a friendship. In fact, many of the alumni from both schools go into business together or work with one another. Raising awareness and helping Columbus share Sebastian’s story is a great way of working together.”
Belen Jesuit will join Columbus in honoring Sebastian at the Belen/Columbus basketball game on Friday, January 12. Additionally, the senior class will take on a fundraising endeavor to help raise funds for the SebastianStrong Foundation and in the fall students will volunteer at the November 3 annual 5K.
For more information on the SebastianStrong Foundation please visit their website, www.sebastianstrong.org.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba, by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school's property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit is situated on a 34-acre site in western Dade County, just minutes away from downtown Miami.