SAN ANTONIO – Brandon Rivas has served in the Army and now puts his life on the line every day as a Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputy. Five months ago, he started an unexpected battle when he was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma.
Every day is a struggle, but Rivas has found much-needed inspiration at his fingertips.
"A lot of times, I have trouble expressing myself, but playing music, I can just express myself however I want to, just kind of get away for a bit. So it's everything to me," he said, with eyes closed while playing the standup bass.
Rivas played bass in the Army for three years at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. He then played professionally and even performed at Carnegie Hall.
Once he had baby number three with his high school sweetheart, and now wife, Amy, he followed another dream of working in law enforcement.
"By the grace of God, here I am with the greatest agency in Texas," he said.
Rivas has been with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office for four years — two years as a civilian employee and two as a deputy.
His brothers and sisters in blue have been there for him every day since May 5, 2017, when he was diagnosed with the extremely rare Anaplastic T-cell ALK non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. His symptoms included severe itching all over his body and swelling in several lymph nodes.
"It's less than 2 percent of all lymphomas. Neither one of the oncologists we met with had even cared for somebody with it," said Amy, who has been a nurse for 16 years.
Rivas just finished his sixth round of chemotherapy, and while there are cloudy and exhausting days, his attitude is unbeatable.
"I've never been the strongest guy or the fastest guy or the smartest guy, but I've never given up," he said. "Going into the Army at 36 years old and the Sheriff’s Academy at 40-something, you’ve got to have a lot of heart."
The humble dad can't afford not to.
"The baby is 2. She's daddy's little girl," Amy said.
Every day, Rivas is beating cancer by letting love and music flow right through him.
"My goal is to be able to put a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office band together as a recruiting tool. Hint, Sheriff Salazar," he said with a chuckle.
There will be a fundraiser for Rivas and his family Sunday. It will be from noon to 10 p.m. at the VFW Post 76 on Broadway and 10th Street. The entrance fee is a $5 donation. It's only $5 more for a barbeque plate, which is being served from noon to 5 p.m. Music starts at 3 p.m., and there will be raffle prizes and fun for the kids.