Swimmer finds life in normal lane after cancer

Raban, family received boost from nonprofit Make-A-Wish

LOGANDALE — All Spencer Raban wants to be is normal.

It was April 29, his final swim meet of the season. The freshman on Moapa Valley High School’s team climbed out of the pool and walked toward the bench where his teammates were seated, shaking his head to get the water out of his ears. He removed his swim cap to reveal his fiery red-orange hair.

With a red towel draped around his waist and his ribs showing through his thin stomach, he told his dad that his time was nearly three seconds better than his personal best. His dad walked away, and Spencer disappeared to the locker room.

It was, by any bystander’s observation, normal. What

Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto Spencer Raban at his home in Logandale and during a swim practice in Mesquite.