NewsFront RangeDenver

Actions

Denver teen's cancer now in remission, holding on to dream to play basketball at East High School

In January, we introduced you to Max Romero who started his battle with cancer and now has a positive update
Max R with AAU Team Coach .jpg
Posted
and last updated

DENVER — Denver7 is following up with a Denver teen who not only hopes to beat cancer, but also play basketball for East High School.

max romero and amy gage.png

In January, we first met 14-year-old Max Romero who was battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

teen.png

Denver7 Sports

Denver teen with hopes of playing basketball for East HS fighting cancer

Wanya Reese

“After his 6th-grade year, we put him into YMCA basketball camps for childcare, and the coaches who had played one in the G League and one in AAU looked at him, and they were like, 'He's got something,'” Max's father Curtis Romero said.

Last September, Max’s parents said he started having bouts of headaches, tiredness and looking pale.

“It started out really innocuous for the first couple of months, and then in January, eyebrows were raised, and they admitted him immediately,” Amy Gage said.

max romero denver east hs basketball.png

His parents reached out to Denver7 recently to say his cancer is in remission, and that Max is signed up to start at East High School in August as a student. While the chemotherapy treatment has been challenging for Max physically, his parents said he remains optimistic and excited about the future.

Denver teen holding on to dream to play basketball at East High School

"We're looking at a start, an August start. He's going to walk through the doors at East High School, so he's going to start high school on time. He's going to go right back to his basketball team. Recovery is going to take some time," Amy Gage, Max's mother, said.

max romero denver east.png

Since our last story, the basketball coach for East High School has connected with Max and his family to talk about his dreams of hitting the hardwood.

The family still has a GoFundMeaccount to help cover medical and other family-related expenses.


Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what's right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.