Firefighters rally against colleague's battle against rare form of cancer

They may respond to different fires and situations, but when it comes to battling a rare form of cancer, firefighters from all the island's services and even abroad are rallying together to extinguish it. Fundraising efforts are ongoing for one former Guam resident and his journey to being cancer-free.

"He is a veteran and hero who never hesitates to help others. His positivity is infectious and lights up any room he walks into." That's how Chris Cruz would describe 26-year-old Zac Rayfield. Cruz, an assistant chief of operations for the Naval Station Rota Fire Department in Saipan, along with Fire Inspector Patrick Fleming and Assistant Chief of Operations Frank Cruz, are just a few of many firefighters abroad and on Guam banding together to help raise funds for Rayfield as he battles a rare form of cancer.

Chris Cruz, Frank Cruz, and Fleming are former Guam residents who were previously with the Naval Base Fire, Camp Blaz, & Andersen Fire & Emergency Services respectively, presently work alongside Shane Rayfield, who is currently their fire chief and Zac Rayfield's father. Shane Rayfield was with Naval Base Guam Fire & Emergency Services  for eight years.

Zac Rayfield was raised in Ipan, Talofofo. Growing up, he wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps. Frank Cruz saying, "Zac was one of those kids who grew around the fire department as a young kid. He'd be in the firehouse, always side by side with his father and with the fire team at every muster. He was very involved with the functions of the fire service."

After graduation from high school, Zac rayfield served as an Air Force firefighter and is currently  a civilian firefighter for Nas Souda Bay Fire Emergency Services in Greece. Recently,  he was hospitalized for what was first diagnosed as a severe case of pneumonia.

"But once he was discharged, they found out he had a rare form of cancer in adults called ewing sarcoma. He was quickly flown out to the Georgia Cancer Center to meet with the specialist who ran extra tests and conducted a biopsy, which determined he had a soft-tissue sarcoma in his chest wall," he explained.

"Because of the location of the tumor on the chest wall, Zac is undergoing an aggressive chemotherapy treatment, where goes for treatment about five times a week, for the next three months, in hopes to shrink the tumor and prevent it from spreading to his lungs."

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time the Rayfield family had a run in with cancer. "When he was 11, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had a long hard fight, thankfully she's a survivor," he said.

Around the same time he was diagnosed, he had been taking care of his grandfather who was also diagnosed with cancer. Together they have been undergoing chemo treatments. "Honestly, through it all, Zac has maintained his positive loving attitude like he's always had," he said.

Zac Rayfield, his wife and his family have a long road ahead of them but according to Chris Cruz, they're ready to fight alongside him. Fleming adding, "We are just truly grateful for all the support, it's really overwhelming, it's a real positive show of support and the community coming together. It's amazing."

Chris Cruz passed along a message from the Rayfield family who thanks everyone who has and continues to support them. He shared, "The love he has received has really given him the strength to endure this battle."

"We just want to thank the community, thank our brothers and sisters in the fire departments in Guam - from GFD, AARF, Andersen, Camp Blaz, NBG and Joint Region Marianas," he said. "Also we have a lot of support overseas from fire departments in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Bahrain."

It truly is like an extended family and they're taking care of one of their own. While there are more fundraising efforts being planned both locally and abroad, there is a GoFundMe page currently set up for Zac Rayfield.