The stories of two Houston high schoolers’ battles with cancer are changing the Houston community.
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Despite the tragic diagnoses, the teens’ resiliency has inspired tremendous acts of selflessness to honor their courage and impactful legacy.
Most recently, students from Alief Hastings High School rallied around their classmate, Ebony Banks, whose rare form of cancer had progressed to stage four. The school district honored Banks with an early graduation ceremony, but a diploma was not the only thing she received on the special day.
Graduation celebration with Ebony Banks! pic.twitter.com/i7BZvXPpRa
— Alief Hastings HS🐾 (@AliefHastingsHS) March 16, 2017
As part of a unique graduation present, friends and classmates came up with a hashtag to get the attention of Banks’ idol in hopes that the two would be able to meet face to face: #EBOBMEETSBEYONCE
I hope Ebony's dream about meeting @Beyonce becomes true💞 #EbobmeetsBeyonce pic.twitter.com/X88RmmYi9C
— Leila Ghaderi (@lilatjejen) March 18, 2017
i love eb so much man , really just want the best for my boo #ebobmeetsbeyonce ❤️🤞🏽
— jelle 🦎 (@jellexoxo) March 18, 2017
The tag went viral, and, last Wednesday, Houston’s own Beyoncé made a very special call to the terminal teen:
Beyoncé facetiming with Ebony, a fan with a rare cancer disease whose last wish was to see Beyoncé. ❤️️💙 pic.twitter.com/pCkGzF4feZ
— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@BeyLegion) March 22, 2017
Four days later, Banks passed away.
Sights from tonight's vigil for @AliefHastingsHS student Ebony Banks pic.twitter.com/7O4yFw8VPq
— Alief ISD (@AliefISD) March 27, 2017
Unfortunately, she was not alone in her fight, and countless other teens receive cancer news each day, including Erick Reyes – a 19-year-old who battled a serious and uncommon type of bone cancer for over two years.
While in hospice care, Reyes was honored with a special graduation ceremony by HISD earlier this month after the senior was unable to return to Madison High School to finish the school year.
Throughout his ordeal, he remained optimistic and committed in his faith to God:
“Because of Him, I am still here celebrating a very special moment,” Reyes said in an interview. “Not only with my friends and family but with my school, which I consider family as well.”
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Sadly, Reyes passed away last week:
✨A candlelight vigil, for Erick Reyes, will be held tonight at Hobby Elem. at 7pm. Erick lost his battle with bone cancer on 3/23/17. pic.twitter.com/2EYVdvUa8v
— Madison HS, Houston (@madisonmarlins) March 24, 2017
RIP to my boy Erick Reyes 🙏🏼
— jas𖤐n (@mrr_jason) March 23, 2017
However, the memory of his spirit lives on, and, because his insurance was cancelled earlier this year due to a legal status issue, there’s still a chance for you to make a difference:
“Don’t know what the plan is yet. I have a lot of faith and I know Im going to be good again,” Reyes wrote on his GoFundMe page in January. “The battle continues but so do the expenses. Help me and my family fight this battle together. Anything helps. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. ☝”
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The family is still about $2,000 short of their $10,000 goal.
Cancer affects us all, but you’re never alone in Houston. May Ebony and Erick rest in peace.