One headache.
That’s all it took to turn an ordinary life upside down.
Sixteen-year-old David Sanchez was everything you’d expect of a driven, full-of-life high school junior. A student at Burbank High School in San Antonio, Texas, David balanced all AP classes while lifting 230 pounds in the gym, performing in Varsity Mariachi, drumming for his band Seaglass, and dreaming big about his future — just like so many teenagers do.
Then, on a recent Sunday afternoon, David told his family he felt “off.”
A headache.
A little dizziness.
Nothing that sounded alarming at first.
Within an hour of arriving at the emergency room, doctors discovered the unthinkable — a brain tumor the size of a small lemon, dangerously positioned near his brain stem. Everything moved fast after that. By the very next day, David was rushed into emergency brain surgery.
Surgeons were able to remove most of the tumor, but that surgery marked the beginning of an even greater battle. Since then, David has not been able to breathe on his own.
During one attempt to remove the ventilator, the unimaginable happened: both of David’s lungs collapsed. His oxygen levels plummeted to just 65 percent. Doctors prepared for a lung bypass, bracing for the worst — and then something incredible occurred. Without warning or medical explanation, David’s oxygen levels suddenly surged back up to 95.
Even the doctors were stunned.
David has now spent more than three long weeks in the ICU. Ahead of him lies radiation, intensive therapy, and a long, uncertain road to recovery. But his family holds tightly to their faith, believing that prayer already saved his life once — and that it can carry him through again.
His grandmother, Cindy, says David’s story carries an important reminder for every parent and caregiver: listen to your children. Even symptoms that seem small — a headache, a moment of dizziness — can be signs of something far more serious.
Now, Cindy is asking for the community to come together for David.
“Pray for David’s lungs to grow stronger.
Pray for the trach to come out.
Pray for healing, strength, and hope.”
If you’ve ever loved a teenager — if you’ve ever watched one chase dreams, laugh freely, and believe the future is wide open — pause for a moment. Lift David up. His fight is far from over, but his story is already a powerful testament to resilience, faith, and the fragile miracle of life.
