The New Yorker His father abandoned their family when Villaraigosa was 5 years old, and at age of 16, a benign tumor in his spinal column briefly paralyzed him from the waist down, curtailing his ability to play sports.
The New Yorker His father abandoned their family. Villaraigosa was 5 years old. A benign tumor in his spinal column briefly paralyzed him from the waist down. This was at age of 16. A benign tumor in his spinal column briefly was curtailing his ability to play sports. This was at age of 16.