CANCER VICTIM, FAMILY AWAIT MIRACLE.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Less than two months ago, doctors diagnosed 17-year-old Saulo Alvarez with a rare form of liver cancer and told him there was little hope for recovery.

But Alvarez, who has dwindled from 140 to 117 pounds, says he will fight the disease, and in the meantime there's only one thing he wants to do above all else: wakeboard.

``That's when you are being pulled by a boat on the lake while standing on a board like the ones used in snowboarding,'' he explained animatedly. ``I can't wait to do that.''

After six months of inexplicable pains in his shoulder and back - which doctors attributed to flat feet and a lack of stretching - Alvarez suffered a collapsed lung and was hospitalized. Tests found tumors in his liver.

With that, his life changed from one full of hanging out with friends, attending Saugus High and playing soccer, to chemotherapy and trips to the hospital every two or three days for tests.

``I never get sick. My friends would get sick, and I wouldn't,'' Alvarez said. ``The only thing I was mad about is that I could never be normal in those six months. Not one second did I feel fine. I hated that pain. I hated it.''

There are just 40 cases like his in the country with few survivors, but Alvarez and his family are fighting.

``The doctor said it is a very strong cancer and there's not much hope, but I believe that God will work with me and help me survive,'' he said.

His family is stunned.

``My heart is broken,'' father Jorge Alvarez said. ``I feel very sad because always I see my son as very strong. For us, it's so hard.''

But the doctor's words haven't quashed the family's hope. The Alvarez family - father Jorge, mother Doris, older brothers Mauricio and Lionel and Saulo - expect a miracle.

`'The medicine has a limit, and God can work beyond that,'' his father said.

Jorge Alvarez said a phone conversation with his own father in Guatemala picked up his spirits.

``My dad says, 'you know, son,' and he read this to me from the Bible: 'This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the son of God might be glorified thereby,''' Jorge Alvarez said.

In addition to their faith, Saulo's will and the family's spirits have been buoyed by the community's immediate support.

When Stacey Allegra and Patty Nua - whose sons are Saulo's friends and play soccer together, heard that Saulo had cancer - they began to think of ways to help the family.

They started a trust fund in Saulo's name, held several fund-raisers, accepted donations and had a garage sale, raising money so his mother could stay home and care for her son.

``The fund-raiser at Marie Callender's was the largest fund-raiser they've ever had,'' Nua said.

``People want to help,'' Allegra said. ``We just want to help Saulo's mother so she can spend as much time with him as possible.''

The Alvarez family says they are thankful for the barrage of support from friends and strangers.

``I saw friends. There were tons of kids and families - a lot of people I know and a lot I didn't. I couldn't believe it,'' Saulo said about the last fund-raiser, a huge smile on his face. ``I have a lot of people praying for me. I have a lot of energy. I feel good. I feel healthy. ...''

HOW TO HELP

Those interested in donating to the Saulo Alvarez trust fund, contact:

Valencia Bank and Trust

c/o Saulo Alvarez Trust Fund

Attn.: Linda

24300 Town Center Drive, Suite 100

Valencia, CA 91355

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Photo:

Saugus High School student Saulo Alvarez, shown here with his parents Jorge and Doris, has a rare form of liver cancer. They have hopes for his recovery.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News

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HOW TO HELP (see text)