The past two years of Esrom Pascual's life have been rather emotional for the Saint Louis football team's left guard.

Although he had been groomed in the program since the eighth grade at Kamehameha Schools, Pascual left the Kapalama Heights campus for Maui's Baldwin High last year as a junior. He said he transferred because he felt he was being unfairly treated in the Warriors' football program. It meant leaving behind his parents and kid brothers.

"For his love of football, he was willing to move to Maui," said his mother, Irva Thomas. "It was a huge sacrifice, being away from his brothers and family."

The 6-foot, 292-pound Pascual did not miss a beat. He was welcomed into the Bears' program, earning all-state honorable mention honors.

But in January, Pascual's grandmother, Na'aloa Nihoa Lorenzo, died. She had raised him when his mother worked on the Mainland in the travel industry.

"I was very close to my grandmother," Pascual said.

When Pascual was accepted into Saint Louis over the summer, it meant returning home. But now that he would be around the house often, his mother felt it was time to reveal to him that she was being treated for tumors in her left breast. Last April, she had a gastric bypass to help her lose weight to help her battle the tumors, she said. It was only six years ago that she had her right breast removed because tumors were "golf-ball size," she said. It was some 18 months or so before she told Esrom of the tumors.

"I tried to hide the cancer stuff," from Esrom, said Thomas, who continues radiation treatment and contemplates surgery to remove her left breast. "I didn't want him to worry."

"I was overwhelmed," Pascual said, "so it's good to be back at home to help out my mom."

Thomas said the best way Esrom helps her is by taking care of himself. She said even as a youngster, Esrom didn't need to be reminded of his studies and responsibilities. He wants to play Division I football upon graduation and has already had his academics pass the NCAA clearinghouse, Thomas said. Esrom's maturity helps her care for her younger boys, Kahanu, 6, and, I'omealani, 4, while she deals with her health issues.

"He's been very supportive in that I've never had to worry about him," Thomas said. "Because of who he is, I could deal with these other things. If he was another kid, kolohe (naughty), I don't know how I could've handled the two kids and the cancer. He really gave me peace of mind."

His attitude carries over to the football field, Crusaders football coach Delbert Tengan said.

"He had a great attitude, a great work ethic and he's always looking to improve himself at practice," Tengan said. "He's a coach's dream. The biggest thing is how he's blended in and just fit in with the guys. He feels right at home with our guys and the guys feel comfortable with him."

Thomas said she is elated at having her son back home because his kid brothers look up to their football-playing brother.

"They like watching Esrom play," she said. "They look forward to that."

And Thomas continues to see her son grow as a person. She said at first, Esrom had difficulty dealing with his grandmother's passing.

"He tends to hold things in," she said.

But recently, Thomas noticed Esrom making regular visits to his grandmother's grave.

"The person that really made Esrom was my mom," Thomas said. "My mom raised Esrom."

Pascual wants his grandmother's legacy to live with him. He is in the process of having his last name changed to Nihoa.

"I want to dedicate the rest of my life to my grandmother," Esrom said.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.