Heber community rallies with birthday surprise for 12-year-old battling cancer

HEBER, Calif. (KYMA) - A local community proved that when one of their own is in the fight of his life, he will never have to fight alone.

Over the weekend, neighbors, staff, and students from Heber Elementary School turned a local street into a massive celebration of love and resilience for 12-year-old Xavier Guereña, a student currently undergoing intense cancer treatments.

Guereña was diagnosed with cancer in June of this year. Because of his aggressive treatment schedule, he has been unable to attend classes.

Missing school didn't mean his school family forgot about him, however. Instead, they brought the entire school spirit straight to his front door to celebrate his birthday.

The quiet neighborhood was suddenly filled with the vibrant sounds of the Heber Elementary Drumline, playing out in full force to lift the young boy's spirits.

Classmates from Guereña's sixth grade class lined the street holding colorful handmade posters, eventually presenting him and his family with special gift baskets.

The emotional display of unity left an impression on everyone in attendance, from the young students to top district leaders.

"Obviously, it's emotional. It's one of our students, and we just wanna show him our love," said Juan Cruz, Heber Elementary School District Superintendent. "I'm very grateful to the staff, to the students that are here, [and] to the family for working with us. But it is emotional because we care."

School board leaders noted that the gathering was a real-world lesson in empathy for the students participating.

"We're trying to build the next generation of leaders in our community, and sometimes that means just being a genuine good person," said Tony Sandoval, Heber Elementary School Board Member. "Watching our students come out after school and be with the family, just showing that care and that compassion."

Those who know Guereña describe him as an energetic, sweet, and kind-hearted boy with a deep passion for baseball. He is known throughout the school as an avid, die-hard fan of the San Diego Padres.

Because he is a member of the community, school leaders emphasized that their support extends far beyond a single afternoon.

"He's not just a student, he is part of our families," said Matthew Kaste, Heber Elementary School Principal. "And so we're going to be here to support him throughout this process...not just today, but for the rest of his journey and healing, hopefully."

Following a powerful, community-wide prayer circle right in front of his home, the day wrapped up with an unexpected, major league twist.

Ruben Niebla, an Imperial Valley native and current Pitching Coach and Associate Manager for the San Diego Padres, sent a personalized video message directly to the young fan.

"Hey Xavier, Ruben Niebla here, pitching coach for the San Diego Padres," Niebla said in the video message. "Heard you're a big San Diego Padres fan, so just wanted to give you a quick message and let you know that we're all pulling for you, man. You've got friends, family, community pulling for you, rooting for you, praying for you...so keep fighting, man. And as always, go Padres."

Though the road ahead remains tough for the 12-year-old, the Heber community made one thing perfectly clear: Guereña has an entire village, and a Major League team, backing him every single step of the way.