Playing in the sand is a digging boost for Hunter Vela

Hunter Vela wanted to be back in Kerrville in the worst way on Friday, but for this 15-year-old, what he wants is often defined by what he can and can’t do.

After spending five days getting chemotherapy, Vela was exhausted, but it didn’t dissuade him from getting in the car with his dad on Friday and making the drive from San Angelo to Kerrville. His urgency centered around a family passion — volleyball.

It was a benefit tournament with three-on-three and four-on-four teams competing. The playing experience ranged from novice to expert, but no one seemed to mind the competition levels. It was the cause they were playing for.

For the last 18 months, Hunter Vela has fought for his life, battling lymphoma and its complications. His life hung in the balance, but his spirit persevered.

On a pair of sand courts, the Vela clan rallied behind Hunter with a daylong sand volleyball tournament.

“This is always a great way to bond with my parents,” Hunter Vela said. “I grew up in a gym with them.”

When Hunter became ill, Tony Vela had just left his position as the Ingram Tom Moore High School volleyball coach. Under Vela, Ingram’s program thrived, holding a No. 1 ranking in the state in 2021, but that seems like a distant memory considering the journey the family has been on since.

“For the first 12 months of treatment we lived in a hospital,” Tony Vela said. That hospital was Cook Children’s Hospital, but now much of Hunter’s care is in San Angelo. However, home is still Kerr County, where Hunter Vela attended Kerrville and Ingram schools.

“We are still in the middle of treatment,” Tony Vela said.

Remarkably, Hunter Vela continued to grow and mature. He’s now 6 feet tall, lanky, and starting to tower over his dad. Tony Vela said his son had to learn everything over — from talking to walking. Even with the heavy chemotherapy treatments, Hunter Vela is ready to take on the world.

And the support poured in on Saturday, with about 50 players taking the courts on a glorious morning for volleyball.

“I came out to help bring the teams here,” said Aaron Guzman, a close Velas friend who came up from San Antonio to participate. “We’ve got people out from San Antonio and Boerne to play.”

For Hunter Vela, there is still a long way to go, but the feeling of the sand and the support he receives is going a long way in his recovery.

“I don’t feel down,” Hunter said.