Locals give outpour of support

When Eastern New Mexico University employee Daniel Saiz was first diagnosed with cancer, he was devastated.

But that devastation soon gave way to hope and optimism.

“I cried, but then I just stopped and said, ‘I don’t have to understand why. God will take care of me,’” Daniel Saiz said.

Daniel Saiz was diagnosed with colon cancer that had spread to his liver on June 11, nine days after his initial doctor’s visit for suspected gallbladder issues, he said.

Daniel Saiz will start chemotherapy following approval from his insurance company, he said. In the meantime, Portales has been providing Daniel Saiz, his wife and their five kids with the support they need.

“I have been blown away by this town; I wasn’t suspecting it at all,” Jennifer Saiz, Daniel Saiz’s wife, said.

Jennifer Saiz said their family has received support from businesses, churches and community members from all over Portales.

Portales business owner Danna Thompson held an online bake sale for the family last weekend and raised around $1,200 for medical bills and travel expenses to help Saiz see his specialist in Lubbock.

Thompson said God put it on her heart to hold an event like this to help families in need.

link Staff Photo: Anna George

Portales business owner Danna Thompson prepares cakes for an online bake sale to support the Saiz family. Daniel Saiz was diagnosed with colon cancer.

“I want them to know that God is on their side, and there are people who will help ease their trouble in hard times,” she said.

Another bake sale will be held this weekend at another Portales business. A GoFundMe page started by Daniel Saiz’s ENMU co-workers is circulating Facebook to raise money as well. Emmanuel Baptist Church, where Daniel Saiz has been attending for approximately 15 years, is holding a luncheon to raise money at noon on July 12.

Jennifer Saiz said this support has made it easy to concentrate on helping her husband feel better insetad of worrying about buying groceries and paying bills.

The groceries have become a lot more expensive for the Saiz family due to Daniel Saiz’s restricted diet. Since his diagnosis, he cannot have sugar, processed food or fried food, he said.

“That part is hard because I come from a busy family, and that was all we had time to eat sometimes,” Daniel Saiz said.

Jennifer Saiz said her friends are helping her find new recipes and food savings to help cushion the cost of groceries.

Daniel Saiz said his family is supporting him and staying as optimistic as they can.

“We know that God is in control and try not to worry about it,” he said.

The family is still working on explaining the situation to their younger kids who are nine, seven and four years-old; the family lost a good friend to breast cancer in August. Daniel and Jennifer Saiz do not want their kids associating that family’s loss with their father’s disease.

“We don’t want them to think, ‘Well if she died, then Daddy is going to die,’ especially when we are so optimistic,” Jennifer Saiz said.

The Saiz’s church family is mirroring that optimism with their support said Debbie Strong, the secretary at Emmanuel Baptist Church.

The church, Strong said, has signed people up to guarantee that Daniel Saiz is being prayed for every fifteen minutes during the day, every day.

“God is in control, and we just have to do our part by supporting the family,” she said.

link Courtesy Photo: Daniel Saiz

Daniel Saiz, far left, was diagnosed with colon cancer on June 11. He and his family remain optimistic on the battle ahead of him, he said. Saiz said his family and community support him however they can.