In 2014, 21-year-old Manuel Garcia put his passion for skydiving on hold. With 81 jumps behind him, the cost of gear and the ambition to take up BASE jumping meant that the sky was no longer within reach. But the future had something else in store for him.
Five years later, Garcia's world was turned upside down. He began experiencing excruciating abdominal pain and severe weight loss. Diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer, he was given a grim prognosis. The disease had spread to his liver, spine and brain. Doctors weren't sure if chemotherapy or hospice care was the best option.
However, Garcia's determination was unwavering. Under the care of Peter Hosein, M.D., he began a course of chemotherapy that, against the odds, started to show results.
Three months later, he transitioned to immunotherapy and, to his joy, received his first clean scan on New Year's Eve.
During his treatment, Garcia rediscovered his love for the sky. Told he had little time left, he made it his mission to return to skydiving and BASE jumping. By 2020, he was back in the air, with 575 skydives and 50 BASE jumps under his belt.
Now, five years cancer-free at 31, Garcia's life is a testament to resilience. He works with his family's business, volunteers for cancer organizations and continues to chase the sky, reminding others that deferred dreams can still take flight.