Cops, Food Trucks Rally Around East Bay 2-Year-Old With Leukemia

ANTIOCH, CA — Two-year-old Adrian Rodríguez is energetic and fun, according to his parents who operate a local food truck. Their young son loves to eat snow, he loves his toys, and he loves playing with his 1-year-old sister.

When Adrian was diagnosed with stage 4 leukemia they put their business, Tacuache's Food Truck, on hold. They don't want to inadvertently expose him to the coronavirus while his immune system is down because of intensive chemotherapy.

In February, when Adrian's mother, Markelle, noticed a lump on his neck that moved as he breathed, Adrian's parents rushed him to the emergency room where x-rays showed a large mass over his chest.

"We were heartbroken to hear the doctor's diagnosis,” said Adrian's father, Adrian Rodríguez, Sr. "We think we may be out of work for six months. But, it could be longer. We will have to see how Adrian does with the treatments he's receiving."

To help make Adrian, and the community, stronger, Antioch Police Department has partnered with the Rodríguez family. Antioch PD is hosting the #AdrianStrong fundraising event from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Antioch Community Center, 4703 Lone Tree Way in Antioch.

The event will feature food trucks, of course, with a portion of food sales donated to the Rodriguez family. Food trucks scheduled to be on hand Saturday include Golden Gate Gyro, Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, Boondoggies, Chrome Coffee and Mr. Jalapeño Food Truck.

For COVID safety, the event is "grab and go."

Community members can also purchase tickets for raffle prizes and will have an opportunity to register as stem cell donors.

"If Adrian goes into permanent remission, we will all celebrate," said Carol Gillespie, executive director of the Asian American Donor Program — AADP — a 31-year-old nonprofit organization that will have a table at Saturday’s event to help the Rodríguez family find a stem cell match for Adrian.

“If Adrian should need a stem cell donor, we don’t want to wait until then to search for his match,” Gillespie said. “Everyone is encouraged to register. You could be the one to save Adrian’s life; If you are not a match for Adrian, you could be a match for another patient who is searching for a donor.”

Matching is closely based on a patient’s ethnicity; their individual genetic characteristics are identified by their human leukocyte antigen — HLA — tissue type, Gillespie said.

Adrian is biracial —Mexican American and Caucasian — and multiethnic patients only have an 18 percent chance of finding a stem cell match, Gillespie said.

When searching patients who are of European descent, the likelihood of finding a matched adult donor is 77 percent, she said.

HOW TO HELP

Registering to find out if you are a match for Adrian — or someone else — takes about 5 minutes and requires a cheek-swab sample. Donors must be 18 to 44 years old and meet general health requirements. Registration is paid for by a grant. Event-goers will be given registration instructions and cheek swabs so they can swab in their car. Those who wish to register but can’t make it Saturday can register online and request a home kit, Gillespie said.

Monetary donations can be made at GoFundMe.com/f/adrian-joseph-rodriguez; by mailing a check made out to the “Adrian Rodríguez Fund” to Antioch Community Federal Credit Union, 301 G St. Antioch, CA 94509; or by credit card by calling the Antioch Community Federal Credit Union at 925-737-1320 and request to make a donation to the “Adrian Rodríguez Fund.”

Patch is a GoFundMe promotional partner.