Multiple Myeloma

The Lara family celebrated Thanksgiving early this year because of Vincent Lara's impending admittance to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to begin chemotherapy treatment for multiple myeloma.

Reporter Elena Watts and I spent some time with the family to help tell their story.

Here are a few frames:

Vincent Lara sits in his mother's home in Victoria, Texas with his nieces Jaylynn Flores, 13, left, and Ava Flores, 7, right, during a family Thanksgiving get-together before he was eventually admitted to MD Anderson Hospital for multiple myeloma treatment in Houston weeks later. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Katherine Vargas, left, feeds her son Trent, 1, while her brother Nicholas Sanchez feeds her other son, Ty, 1, at their grandmother's home in Victoria, Texas during an early Thanksgiving celebration their family celebrated before Vincent Lara would eventually be admitted to MD Anderson Hospital in Houston for multiple myeloma cancer treatment. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Susana Lara wears the ring, on her right hand ring finger, her husband, Vincent Lara, gave her when she was 16 years old before they married. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Vincent Lara celebrates an early Thanksgiving with family in Victoria, Texas. Lara's sister, Vanessa Flores, donated stem cells to help in the treatment of his multiple myeloma cancer. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

From left, Ava Flores, 7, T.J. Vargas, 9, N.J. Sanchez, 4, Trey Vargas, 4, and Jaylynn Flores, 13, play together at their grandmother's house in Victoria, Texas during an early Thanksgiving celebration. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Tylee Flores, 2, sits in her father Rudy Flores' lap at her grandmother's home in Victoria, Texas during an early Thanksgiving celebration her family celebrated before Vincent Lara would eventually be admitted to MD Anderson Hospital in Houston for multiple myeloma cancer treatment. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Vincent Lara pushes his niece, Tylee Flores, 2, on a swing set outside of his mother's home in Victoria, Texas during an early Thanksgiving celebration his family celebrated before he would eventually be admitted to MD Anderson Hospital in Houston for multiple myeloma cancer treatment. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Refugio vs. Rogers High School Playoff Football

Last Friday, I had the good fortune of being able to photograph perhaps the single most exciting game of football I have ever witnessed.

Watching Refugio High quarterback Travis Quintanilla break the all-time Texas State high school career passing yards record and then go on to win in a stunning 73-72 overtime finish was quite the spectacle.

"That was one of the best high school games I've seen in 30 years," said (legendary) Texas sports reporter Mike Forman after the game. We couldn't stop talking about it the whole way home from Houston.

Here are a few images from the game:

Refugio High quarterback Travis Quintanilla celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against Rogers High at Ken Pridgeon Stadium in Houston, Texas on Nov. 29, 2013. Quintanilla passed for 712 yards, breaking the Texas State high school career passing yards record, on the way to a 73-72 victory in overtime. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Rogers High quarterback Colton Maiorka jumps past Refugio High defenders at Ken Pridgeon Stadium in Houston, Texas on Nov. 29, 2013. Refugio High would go on to win 73-72 in overtime. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Rogers High running back Brody Malovets, center, is tackled by Refugio High players J.B. Brown, left, and Alex Coronado, right, at Ken Pridgeon Stadium in Houston, Texas on Nov. 29, 2013. Refugio High would go on to win 73-72 in overtime. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Refugio High players watch on the sidelines as the game winning extra point clinches their 73-72 victory in overtime against Rogers High on Nov. 29, 2013 at Ken Pridgeon Stadium in Houston, Texas. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Refugio High band members, from left, Lizbeth Delgado, Krystal Garcia and Hannah Heard cheer as Refugio High scores a touchdown to tie the game at 66-66 late in the fourth quarter at Ken Pridgeon Stadium in Houston, Texas on Nov. 29, 2013. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Refugio High kicker Adolfo Cordero, center, celebrates with teammate Julian Murillo, left, after kicking the game winning extra point to win 73-72 against Rogers High in overtime at Ken Pridgeon Stadium in Houston, Texas on Nov. 29, 2013. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

Refugio High defensive lineman Jonathan Cantu, bottom left, celebrates with teammates after defeating Rogers High 73-72 in overtime at Ken Pridgeon Stadium in Houston, Texas on Nov. 29, 2013. (IAN TERRY/ITERRY@VICAD.COM)

The Victoria Advocate | November 30, 2013

Houston Chronicle: Half Moon Reef

Coastal Restoration Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy Julie Sullivan holds oyster shells at the mouth of Oyster Lake on the Intercoastal Waterway near Matagorda, Texas on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. With their Half Moon Reef Restoration project, The Nature Conservancy is hoping to revitalize a once bustling natural reef system in Matagorda Bay. (Ian Terry/For the Chronicle)

Old oyster shells pile up along the Intercoastal Waterway near Matagorda, Texas on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. With its proximity to the fresh water of the Colorado River, the Half Moon Reef Restoration Project will be well suited to provide the mixture of salt and fresh water that oysters need to thrive. (Ian Terry/For the Chronicle)

Workers plant poles into the water to mark out areas for proposed reef rows at the Half Moon Reef Restoration site off the coast of Matagorda, Texas on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. With an average water depth of approximately 5 feet, the project site is well suited for an oyster habitat. (Ian Terry/For the Chronicle)

Associate Director of Coastal Restoration at The Nature Conservancy Mark Dumesnil (left) looks over blueprints at the Half Moon Reef Restoration site off the coast of Matagorda, Texas on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. The Nature Conservancy's project will provide new habitats for oysters in Matagorda Bay. (Ian Terry/For the Chronicle)

Associate Director of Coastal Restoration at The Nature Conservancy Mark Dumesnil looks through blueprints of proposed reef structures at the Half Moon Reef Restoration site in Matagorda, Texas on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. The project, which is scheduled for completion in mid-December, will place nearly 50 acres of new limestone reef into Matagorda Bay. (Ian Terry/For the Chronicle)

Coastal Restoration Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy Julie Sullivan looks through old oyster shells along the Intercoastal Waterway near Matagorda, Texas on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. The Nature Conservancy's Half Moon Reef Restoration project in Matagorda Bay will be completed in 2 phases. (Ian Terry/For the Chronicle)

Associate Director of Coastal Restoration at The Nature Conservancy Mark Dumesnil drives his boat through Matagorda Bay near the Half Moon Reef Restoration site off the coast of Matagorda, Texas on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. (Ian Terry/For the Chronicle)

Located in a northern lobe of the Gulf Coast's Matagorda Bay, the Half Moon Reef Restoration site, which will provide nearly 50 acres of new limestone reef habitat for oysters and other organisms, is scheduled for completion in mid-December of 2013. (Ian Terry/For the Chronicle)

The Houston Chronicle | November 3, 2013