Abel Fonseca, II, is a lifelong San Benito resident and community advocate who has served local students and families for more than two decades. Through his “Heart of San Benito” series, he shares stories celebrating the people who make the Resaca City special. He can be reached at abelfonsecaii@hotmail.com.
After my last column was published, I realized there were several special people whose kindness and generosity deserved recognition.
During my open-heart surgery and the many health complications that followed, I was blessed with the incredible support of so many individuals.
While I tried my best to thank everyone, I unintentionally left out a few people who played an important role in helping my family and me during one of the most difficult periods of our lives.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Melinda Gonzalez Gomez, San Benito CISD’s ACE Curriculum Specialist, her husband, Johnny Gomez, and their daughter, Alexia.
They generously dedicated their time and energy to organizing, selling, and distributing fundraiser tickets. Their willingness to step in made a tremendous difference, and my family and I will always be grateful for their kindness and support.
I would also like to recognize the amazing ACE Coordinators and office staff. Time and again, they went above and beyond the call of duty—not because they had to, but because they genuinely cared.
Their encouragement, prayers, friendship, and unwavering support carried my family and me through some of our darkest days.
I would also like to recognize Juan Arellano and his family for the incredible kindness they showed me during my recovery. Juan, a Valley native from Harlingen, moved to Houston as his daughter, LuzElena Arellano, battled cancer.
Today, she continues her journey while fighting GVHD, the same disease I continue to face. Despite the challenges their own family was facing, Juan and his wife still found time to care for others.
They prepared homemade meals for me during a time when eating was extremely difficult because of my health complications. Their generosity, compassion, and willingness to help during such a challenging season in their own lives will never be forgotten.
I am grateful to share that LuzElena is doing well at this time.
She still has difficult days, but overall, she continues to show strength and courage. Please continue to keep her and the Arellano family in your prayers as they continue on their journey.
When someone faces a life-changing illness, you quickly discover who walks beside you through the storm. I was fortunate to be surrounded by people whose compassion reminded me that I was never fighting alone.
To everyone who prayed, donated, volunteered, organized fundraisers, sent messages of encouragement, or simply showed up when I needed someone most—thank you. Your kindness will always hold a special place in my heart.
I am here today because of God’s grace, the dedication of my medical team, and the love and support of an extraordinary community. I will never stop being grateful to each and every one of you.
The Heart of San Benito: Help Me Tell Our Story
After 21 years of service to this community—from the halls of the school district to the energy of our local gyms and centers—I have learned one thing above all: San Benito is defined by its people. Every student, every parent, and every neighbor carries a story that deserves to be heard.
I am now setting out to document those stories, and I am looking for the voices that make our city what it is.
I am officially opening a call for submissions. I am looking for stories that inspire, lessons learned the hard way, and moments of triumph that happen quietly behind the scenes.
Whether it is a story of overcoming a challenge, a memory that shaped your life, or an experience you believe could help someone else grow, I want to hear it.
How to Submit Your Story
If you have a story to share, please email me at abelfonsecaii@hotmail.com.
To ensure we are on the same page, please include the following statement in your email: “Tell Me Your Story, San Benito.”
Each week, I want to feature one resident—not a celebrity, not necessarily someone well known—but someone whose story deserves to be heard. The subject of the column might be: a cancer survivor, a veteran, a retired teacher, a former athlete, a grandmother, a mechanic, a farmer, a nurse, a coach, a business owner, or a student.
A photo of yourself may be included in the piece.
Do you know someone whose story deserves to be told? Email me at abelfonsecaii@hotmail.com. Your story could inspire the next generation and help preserve San Benito’s history.