A Superhero Moment: Gabriel Rings the Bell to Mark Milestone in Cancer Treatment
Dressed as Deadpool, Gabriel Rodriguez struck a superhero pose and rang the bell at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, signaling that he has completed the intensive phase of his treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma and entered remission. He was surrounded by family, friends and the ChristianaCare care team who supported him every step of the way as he now continues with maintenance chemotherapy.
“Even though I’m cancer-free, I’m still fighting,” Gabriel said. “That’s why I wear this. To keep going — and to share love and hope with people who need it.”
After his diagnosis, Gabriel found a creative way to stay strong: he began dressing as his favorite comic book characters, including Deadpool and Spider-Man. On treatment days, he arrived in costume. He brought courage, humor and a spark of superhero energy to every visit.
Like the heroes who inspired him, Gabriel faced his illness with sharp wit, resilience and perfectly timed punchlines. Masks aren’t required for heroism, but Gabriel proved they have their uses.
His girlfriend, Alicia, was with him throughout the yearlong journey.
“There’s no right way to handle something like this. You just take it one day at a time,” she said. “Some days you’re strong, some days you’re not. That’s all okay. But if you have a partner going through this, you need a community. You cannot do it alone.”
She also shared her appreciation for the care team that walked beside them: “Thank you to ChristianaCare and the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center. They literally know him. We come in and we’re family — everyone says hello. We’ve been here for a year now, and they’ve made this awful but somehow wonderful experience something we could get through together.”
Congratulations to Gabriel on this milestone. His story is a reminder of how people find their footing in difficult times, and how much it matters to have others standing with you.
