José and his family spent 19 days at Fair Haven. From left to right: His parents, José Sr. and Marleene; José; and his fiancée Talysha.
Choosing joy isn’t always easy, especially when facing life’s toughest challenges. But that was the choice made by José, a 29-year-old attorney from Puerto Rico.
As undergraduate students, José and Talysha met at the University of Puerto Rico. “He caught my eye,” Talysha shared as she smiled. “I instantly wanted to get to know him.” The two began dating in 2016, and their relationship continued to grow stronger as they pursued advanced degrees, José in law and Talysha in occupational therapy. While celebrating Talysha’s graduation in 2023, José began experiencing severe back pain. Not long after, he was diagnosed with metastatic testicular cancer. It was a shock.
“I’ve always been healthy and athletic, but I didn’t understand how cancer works,” José reflected. “I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to face.”
José’s initial treatment in Puerto Rico was unsuccessful, and the cancer spread to the lymph nodes in his back. After exploring various treatment options, he decided to seek treatment at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, where José met with Dr. Larry Einhorn and Dr. Clint Carey. He flew to Indianapolis in May 2024 and underwent surgery to remove cancerous tumors from his right side.
“Everything seemed fine, but then the cancer returned, this time on the left side,” José said. His second round of treatment was intense—high-dose chemotherapy and tandem stem cell transplant. He spent two months at the Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in Puerto Rico.
Through it all, Talysha remained by his side, offering unwavering support. “It may seem like none of this affects José,” she said, “but I know it does. He’s incredibly brave, always maintaining a positive attitude.”
That optimism was crucial. When treatment failed again, José’s tumors spread. That’s when Talysha, José, and his parents returned to Indianapolis for the second time, as José faced yet another surgery. But José had something else on his mind.
“The last time we were here,” José shared, “Talysha really enjoyed walking by the canal. Despite the snow and cold, something we never see in Puerto Rico, it felt like the perfect place to propose.”
Just two days before his second surgery, José took Talysha on a stroll on the downtown Indianapolis canal and proposed! The joy of the occasion was like sunshine breaking through the clouds. Given the uncertainty of what lay ahead, the moment was especially meaningful.
José’s surgery was extensive and complicated. He spent five days in the ICU. After being released from the hospital, José worked hard every day to regain his strength, slowly walking the hallways of Fair Haven, starting with short distances and eventually walking laps.
Being together with his family at Fair Haven while he recovered meant so much to José. “I’m really thankful my parents are here with me,” he said. “We feel surrounded by caring people. It’s not just the staff; the other guests uplift us, too. It feels like home.”
José and Talysha celebrated their engagement by taking photos on Fair Haven’s snow-filled back patio. On one of their last nights at Fair Haven, a local church came to serve dinner for the families at Ada’s Place. José and his family enjoyed the meal and visited with other guests. After dinner, church volunteers surprised everyone when they capped off the celebration with gospel music and some great dancing. It was a special moment when José, still recovering from surgery, joined in on the fun!
As they prepared to return home, José’s mother, Marleene, shared her heartfelt gratitude in a note: “We are thankful for Fair Haven. The love we felt here through the staff and guests was a testament to God’s care. We pray you can continue to bless other families like ours. We are eternally grateful.”
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