 Los Angeles County Sheriff Lt. Gilbert Aguilar teaches a leadership class for inmates at the Pitches Castaic jail in Santa Clarita, Calif. Taking lessons he’s learned from a four-year fight with cancer, Aguilar instructs inmates on skills they need to survive inside and outside jail. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) |
By Thomas Watkins
Associated Press
CASTAIC, Calif. — Sheriff’s Lt. Gilbert Aguilar begins his jailhouse class by telling the inmates how he learned he had one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
The grim revelation came in June 2005, when Aguilar’s urine turned the color of cranberry juice. Days later, his doctor told him he had advanced bladder cancer and gave him a 35 percent chance of long-term survival.
“I wasn’t hearing any of that stuff after he said, ‘You’ve got cancer,’” Aguilar says.
His account gets the full attention of the 24 inmates. Some mutter supportive words. Others wince.
Aguilar hopes his story keeps them from returning to jail.
Read full story here: Lawman’s cancer fight leads to classes for inmates