The Fight of His Life

— --

he sun is just rising over the railroad tracks when Frank Rodriguez unlocks the squeaky front door to his gym.

Frank's Boxing Gym is a staple here in Grand Island, Nebraska, and the owner does just about everything to keep its doors -- even if they're squeaky --open. Rodriguez cuts the grass, cleans the floors, trains the boxers and also  runs a lawn service and works multiple odds jobs to scrape together enough money to keep the gym going.

Just the fact that Rodriguez has the strength to open the front door is a miracle unto itself.

Rodriguez was born prematurely, weighing less than 4 pounds. His crib wasn't finished yet, so his parents put him to bed in a dresser drawer. No baby clothes fit Baby Frank, so his mom dressed him in doll clothes.

Rodriguez eventually grew out of the doll clothes and dresser drawer, but he was always the smallest kid in school and became a teasing target for other kids. But then his dad, Frank Sr., decided to build a gym in their basement, and his son soon became addicted to training. Frank Sr. used to follow his son in a truck as he ran along the dusty central Nebraska roads that cut through corn fields and cow pastures. It wasn't long before the bullies figured out thaty messing with Frank was not a good idea anymore. 

Fast forward to six years ago, when Frank was diagnosed with lymphoma that had spread to 70 percent of his body. His doctor placed him on the most aggressive possible treatment, but warned that Frank had only a few weeks to live.

Weeks, then months, passed. Against all odds, the treatment had worked -- so well, in fact, that Frank was eventually declared to be cancer free.

The treatment had ravaged his strong body, and just when he thought he'd turned the corner on rebuilding his physical condition, more bad news: He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Doctors were able to remove the cancer, but only by removing part of his pancreas, small intestine and gall bladder.

The surgery was 11 hours long. When Frank awoke, he vowed to come back stronger than ever.