Turning my grief into purpose

I’m an immigrant originally from La Paz, Bolivia, in South America. Today, I live in Denver, Colorado, where I own and manage Spanish-language radio stations.

Through my work, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to connect with my community and amplify causes that truly matter. One of those causes — perhaps the one closest to my heart — is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. 

My connection to the mission of St. Jude began during one of the most painful moments of my life. In 1990, I lost my son Robby to cancer. That experience changed me forever.

Robby was only 10 years old, a joyful, vibrant child who was always smiling. We spent a lot of time together because he loved coming with me to work. 

Once, at an airport, Robby met Mother Teresa of Calcutta. When she told him she would pray for him, he asked her instead to pray for the children at the local hospital in Colorado where he received treatment. He was so generous that he was known for giving away gifts he received to other kids there. At such a young age, he also had the chance to attend a national football championship and a presidential inauguration.

He became a source of inspiration for my family and my community. 

I think about him every single day.

That experience taught me one of life’s greatest lessons: to have faith. And I knew I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. My motivation to get involved with St. Jude came from a deep desire to help other children — supporting their healing, contributing to the search for cures, and making sure other families had the chance we didn’t. 

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of raising thousands of dollars each year — more than $60,000 annually — to support this mission. I’ve also visited the hospital, and seeing firsthand the impact it has on children’s lives has been truly transformative.

What inspires me to keep supporting St. Jude is simple: the mission never ends. The challenge is still there, and more children need our help every day. We cannot give up. Every dollar raised, every message shared, every event held is one more step toward a future where no child dies from cancer 

I know my support has helped make the hospital’s work possible and has contributed to the incredible efforts of the doctors searching for cures. What gives me the most hope is knowing that all the research and discoveries made at St. Jude are shared with hospitals around the world. That means every donation has a global impact.

Being part of the St. Jude community carries a deeper meaning for me. It’s a commitment I’m proud of. As a Latino, as a father, and as a member of this community, I’m honored to contribute to such a noble cause — one that brings comfort to children fighting for their lives at the very beginning of their journey. 

My dream is for the work of St. Jude to continue, and for the resources to never run out.