MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (KABC) — A Mission Viejo couple with three young children face a daily dire crisis — they’re both diagnosed with cancer. Zak Salazar has a terminal diagnosis, while his wife, Cori Salazar, is fighting cancer for the second time. They say facing looming mortality has taught them how to live life more fully.<\/p>\n
In the Salazar household, the well-being of their three young daughters is always top of mind.<\/p>\n
“I want my girls to feel completely loved and cared for and safe, even when, you know, things are going wrong,” Cori said.<\/p>\n
Many things have gone wrong. When Eyewitness News met the family<\/a> a year ago, Zak had just finished chemo for glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, and Cori was just getting her footing after surgery for thyroid cancer.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Young couple describes the emotional and financial toll as they both battled cancer at the same time<\/a><\/p>\n Cori and Zak Salazar were both diagnosed with cancer in 2023. She was recovering from an aggressive thyroid tumor, when they learned he had stage 4 Glioblastoma.<\/p>\n “What happens to the girls if we both go? These are not conversations 39-year-old parents should be having,” Zak said at the time.<\/p>\n Shortly after that interview, a routine scan for kidney stones revealed a spot on Cori’s pancreas. Tests confirmed it was a slow-growing form of pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n “The thought of me not being around for them, or both of us not being around for them, was really scary,” Cori said.<\/p>\n Doctors removed her spleen and part of her pancreas. But, she’ll need continued monitoring.<\/p>\n Then, Zak received scary news. He gets a brain MRI every two months, but this time, radiologists flagged something new.<\/p>\n “Sure enough, the doctor was like, ‘I’m pretty worried about this spot. I want you to start on chemo right away,'” he said.<\/p>\n Zak complied, but sought a second opinion at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.<\/p>\n Under a large oak tree in Houston, the family prayed.<\/p>\n “Lord, I just ask that you’ve already healed me,” he said.<\/p>\n