Oak Park athletes reach out to boy with leukemia
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers TEAM EFFORT- The Oak Park High School Girls JV Volleyball Team presents an autographed volleyball to Mateo Franco, 9, the cousin of team captain Katie Auerbach. The athletes raised money through selling T-shirts and bracelets for Mateo's leukemia treatments.

Plenty of boys would love to have been in Mateo Franco's shoes at Oak Park High School on Tues., Sept. 25. The 9yearold was greeted by members of the girls' volleyball team, who showered him with gifts and attention, treating Mateo "like a rock star," according to his mother, Sandi Franco.

Mateo, who lives in Newhall, came to Oak Park to meet members of the volleyball team that has provided support while he is being treated for leukemia. Fortyfive girls make up the varsity, junior varsity and freshman/sophomore teams.

Diagnosed two years ago, Mateo continues to undergo chemotherapy, part of a treatment regimen that will take nearly three and a half years to complete.

Mateo's cousin Katie Auerbach, a co-captain of the volleyball team, wanted to do something to help. She encouraged her teammates to join her in selling green and white "Team Mateo" rubber bracelets, donating the proceeds to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In four weeks the team made about $100.

The girls made Team Mateo T-shirts to wear during the warm-up period on game days. They also signed Mateo's online guest book.

"It's not fair that he has to be sick," said Katie, a junior at Oak Park.

Mateo's leukemia was diagnosed in September 2005, after a persistent sore throat resulted in a visit to the doctor. A blood test brought the bad news.

"There are no words to describe what it does to you," said Franco, who has two other sons, ages 13 and 11. "It changes everything."

Mateo spent the first 16 months after the diagnosis at home, away from school and his friends. The treatment destroyed his immune system, leaving him vulnerable to germs. Chemotherapy sessions are now down to once a month, plus daily pills. He's now back in school and playing his favorite sports- soccer and basketball.

Katie and her teammates presented Mateo with an Oak Park volleyball sweatshirt and poster, and a volleyball with the girls' signatures and a message: "To Our Hero." Some of the girls will travel to Bridgeport Park in Valencia on Sun., Oct. 14 to participate with Mateo in a walk to raise funds for leukemia research.

"It feels good to help," said sophomore Lauren Varney.

"It makes me feel how lucky I am," said Kaki Bage, a senior.

"What touched me . . . for teenagers to be selfless is amazing. For them to take the time to sign his book and do these other things," Franco said. "That's what we've learned through all of this, that there are some really nice people."

Mateo's web page can be found at www.caringbridge.org/ visit/mateofranco.