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Bobby Jenks, a former Major League Baseball pitcher and World Series champion for the Chicago White Sox is currently fighting stage 4 stomach cancer. On top of his health struggles, Jenks and his family also lost their Pacific Palisades home in the recent California wildfires.
After these struggles, Jenks and his family have relocated to Portugal to be closer to his wife Eleni Tzitzivacos' family while he receives treatment.
Eleni Tzitzivacos is an accomplished actor and model, with a strong background in the entertainment industry. According to her LinkedIn profile, she works as an Actor/Model for LoveTalent Agency.
Tzitzivacos holds a bachelor’s degree in financial accounting and has studied counseling psychology at UCLA. In addition, she is the founder of Moosa Jewels, a luxury jewelry brand. She is also the co-founder of Portugal Khomes a real estate agency based in Portugal.
The family relocated to Sintra, Portugal, for help and to be near Tzitzivacos’ family while undergoing rigorous cancer treatment. In an interview from his hospital bed in Portugal, Jenks described the difficult realities of his diagnosis and treatment journey. The couple and their two children now reside together in Portugal.
Bobby Jenks is battling with cancer that has now spread to the lining of his stomach as well as his bones, lower back, and hips. He is now receiving radiation therapy in an attempt to halt the bleeding caused by the growing tumor.
A look at Bobby Jenks past career and future plans as he loses his house to Palisades fire
The wildfires in California in recent weeks added yet another layer of hardship to the family’s life. The wildfires burned their Pacific Palisades home to the ground, along with almost all of Jenks’ personal baseball relics (CBS News).
Remarkably, Jenks was able to save his World Series championship ring, which he had with him in Portugal. Talking about the fire, he said:
"I've got one suitcase left to my name, it's all gone. Everything else I've ever done. I have everything, first to first. All those things are irreplaceable."
Bobby Jenks was a key contributor to the White Sox’s 2005 World Series title, earning four saves in six postseason games, including the final game. He was named the All-Star in both the 2006 and 2007 seasons where he achieved a combined total of 81 saves.
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Over the next three seasons, Bobby Jenks remained an elite closer, with an average of more than 28 saves per year. According to CBS News, in 2007, he set a record by retiring 41 consecutive batters. Jenks recorded 173 saves over six seasons with the Chicago White Sox before retiring after 19 appearances with the Boston Red Sox in 2011.
Bobby Jenks most recently managed the Windy City Thunderbolts in the independent Frontier League. He's optimistic about returning next season while he undergoes his cancer treatment.
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