Merced County high school holds special graduation for student battling rare cancer

Gustine High School and the small Central Valley town of Gustine, tucked in the west side of Merced County, teamed up to do everything they could to make Friday a memorable day for 17-year-old senior Brian Ortiz Núñez.

The high school basically hit the pause button after lunch as all the students and staff gathered in front of the school as Ortiz Núñez and his family received a police escort through the school gates for a special graduation ceremony for Ortiz Núñez, who is battling a terminal cancer.

After being diagnosed with Fibrolamellar Carcinoma, a rare cancer of the liver, in September of 2023, Ortiz Núñez has undergone rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.

However, the treatments have been unsuccessful, and, according to his sister, Alondra, doctors told the family in March of this year, that her little brother had about a month left to live.

“It’s really hard, but it’s God’s plan,” Alondra Ortiz Núñez said. “Only he can tell what’s next. He’s giving us the strength that we have now, being strong for him, and being there for him every single moment, cherishing everything that we’ve got with him.”

Alondra worked with school staff members to put Friday’s special graduation ceremony together.

Gustine High principal Adam Cano went to the Gustine Unified school board during a March meeting, asking for permission to present Ortiz Núñez with a special diploma. The board passed the motion.

“Brian is extra special,” said Gustine Unified superintendent Bryan Ballenger. “It’s not an easy thing to go through. We’re happy to do this for him. We’re a small community. It’s very heartwarming to see everyone rallying together to do something special for this young man.”

There were two fire engines on campus, sirens blaring, as the procession of family cars made its way to the high school. Police officers blocked the road in front of the school. The Ortiz Núñez family was led to the school from their home in Santa Nella by two motorcycle officers.

“Doing something like this, we were going to give him the escort that he deserved, like a dignitary would receive, a presidential escort,” said Edward Gonzales, who is the Gustine Police Department motor unit coordinator . “We were going to put in every stop we could to try to make sure he felt special because he is.”

Ortiz Núñez’s classmates lined both sides of the entrance, some carrying signs that read: “Congratulations, Brian! I’m so proud of you!” and “Congratulations Brian! Class of 2024.”

At one point students started chanting his name.

After Cano announced Ortiz Nunez’s name, he emerged from the car to receive his diploma. He then walked through a procession of staff members, stopping to give hugs, shake hands and take pictures.

His smile never left his face.

”It means a lot to me,” Ortiz Núñez said. “It’s amazing.”

Why was it important for him to receive his diploma?

“I did all this and the last year I got cancer, and I just thought, I wasn’t going to get this moment that I wanted,” Ortiz Núñez said. “Thank you to Gustine High School for doing all this for me. They made this moment special for me.”

Alondra Ortiz Núñez said Friday was a bright spot after many tough months since three tumors were discovered in Brian in September.

She described her younger brother as funny and smart. He loves sports, especially watching football and soccer.

She said they have a tight-knit family with her two parents and four siblings, but they do their best not to be sad in front of Brian.

“We’re trying not to show it to him but we’re going through it physically and mentally, trying to cope with all the news they give us, bad news after bad news,” Alondra Ortiz Núñez said. “It got to a lot of us, especially when they broke the news to us how (long) he had left, but we’re staying strong for him. We know he’s a fighter and every obstacle he’s gone through he’s fought, he’s fought so hard.”

After getting the latest news about Brian’s cancer last month, Alondra decided she needed to work fast with the school to make something happen for her brother.

She said she could tell her brother was excited and emotional in the car. She could see him shaking.

“He didn’t know what to expect,” Alondra Ortiz Núñez said. “I just told him, ‘Brian, just know that this is your moment. You should enjoy every minute of it.’”

Before returning to the car, Brian took off his cap and put it on his mother Luz María’s head and put his graduation gown on his father Ramon, and posed for pictures with his parents.

Cano said it was an emotional day for everyone involved.

“It’s just something that you never want to do again, but it had to be done,” Cano said. “Brian is just a very special kid to us.”

Before leaving, Brian Ortiz Núñez was asked what’s next for him and his family.

“It’s hard but we keep fighting for every day,” he said. “We thank God for waking up every morning, just keep fighting, don’t give up.”