Tony Pena, Grafton Teen And Star Football Player Dies From Cancer

GRAFTON, MA — Tony Pena, a Grafton teen and high school football player, lost his battle with brain cancer on Tuesday. The 17-year-old was diagnosed in October and was determined to beat the disease — he fell into a coma on Sunday and died days later, according to an update on Pena's GoFundMe page.

A senior at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, Pena was known for his big heart and an even bigger smile. In the update confirming Pena's death, Maria Rodriguez writes, "Tony, we will miss your infectious smile, your fresh cheeky remarks, your big heart, compassion and generosity, your energy and enthusiasm." Rodriguez, a friend of the family, said Pena was surrounded by family when he passed. She added that he left a lasting impact on everyone he met. "Tony you are one of a kind and that made it very easy to love you," Rodriguez wrote.

Pena was diagnosed with stage 4 pediatric glioblastoma in October 2019. Doctors found the disease after Pena suffered a concussion during a football game in September and his concussion symptoms worsened. An inoperable tumor was found, embedded in Pena's brain stem. Pena and his family began the grueling journey of chemotherapy treatments, remaining optimistic and determined to fight. "Tony is a fighter, he is young, he is healthy, he is strong, and he is stubborn," the initial GoFundMe post reads.

According to the page, Pena had big plans to not only finish his senior year strong, but to attend RIT University for sign language studies. In her initial post, Rodriguez describes Pena as a "happy teenager, full of life, great athlete and good student."

Rodriguez wrote that Pena completed radiation treatment a few weeks ago, but an MRI revealed the tumor had spread to his spine.

"He was such a trooper, he had his good days and his painful days, but he never stopped believing and he never complained to his friends about it," Rodriguez wrote, "This boy kept being strong, he was determined to keep going for as long as he could."

Pena's last wish was to visit family in Florida and ride in a Jeep. Last Wednesday, Pena's parents made his wish happen as they flew to Orlando. Pena had a few days of fun with family before he started feeling ill again, according to the page, and had to be hospitalized. On the way to the hospital, Pena slipped into a coma — he died two days later in Florida with his family by his side.

Rodriguez asked the community to give the family privacy as they grieve — they are making plans to bring him home in the coming days.

The Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational High School community grieved the loss over Twitter. The school tweeted it has been in touch with Pena's family and are offering support when and where needed. A crisis response team was ready at the school on Wednesday to help support students and staff through the grieving process.

"Tony touched all of us with his energy, kind heart, and big mischievous smile. He loved our football team, and in his own words, 'football is family,” the school tweeted.

The school's football team shared a screenshot of the GoFundMe page update on Twitter saying "There are no words," and urging students and players to reach out for support. "We are all hurting, you’re not alone," the team tweeted.