Lowry drama club supports fellow buckaroo battling cancer
Through the noble efforts of the Lowry High School (LHS) Stagecraft and Drama Club, fellow students, and other community members, $1,382 was raised towards 15 year-old LHS student Joseph Esquibel’s cancer treatment at LHS’s talent show, Lowry’s Got Talent on Feb.1.
Joseph was diagnosed with a neuroblastoma in 2022 and has science been undergoing various treatments. Many different people in the community have stepped up to help him and his family as they battle his cancer. At the talent show, eight different student acts were put together that included singing, dancing, music, artwork, and comedy, all helping to benefit Joseph.
“Our community has always been supportive of people in need, but what strikes me the most is the giving and supportive nature of our Lowry High School students. It wasn’t just adults who were donating money. In fact, the majority of the audience was students,“ said LHS Drama Instructor Kelly Bales in an email.
According to Bales, the Stagecraft and Drama students were the ones that decided that the proceeds from the show should be donated to Joseph. The charge at the door was $5 and the donation bin was full by the time the show started and overflowing by the end of the night as people made donations after the show as well.
“I love the support our Lowry students have for eachother. It makes me proud to be a part of Lowry.”
Lowry Drama’s next performance will be My Name is Rumpelstiltskin on February 27, 28 and March 1, with proceeds going towards scholarships for Drama and Stagecraft students.
Although Joseph is not a Drama or Stagecraft student, he is a fellow Buckaroo. He plays baseball and football for Lowry. His journey started when he was experiencing knee pain during the 2022 baseball season and then when the pain persisted at the beginning of the football season. Joseph underwent tests and MRIs, which identified a tumor the size of an orange attached to his kidney, according to Joseph’s mother, Brooke Esquibel.
After 19 chemotherapy treatments, fluctuations in weight, and many hard days, Joseph recently underwent surgery to remove his neuroblastoma on Feb. 7 and he will still have about two years of treatment left according to doctors.
“He has never once complained about his circumstance and just smiles and does whatever the doctors, nurses and his parents say,” said Brooke Esquibel in an email.
“We are so grateful for all the community support and prayers as Joseph is an amazing son, brother, uncle, teammate, student and friend.”