Young cancer survivors aid Relay for Life efforts
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It’s hard to believe these two wonderful children are cancer survivors, but they are. In fact, Kane, at 12, is a 12-year survivor. That’s right. He was born with his cancer, neuroblastoma, and his is an amazing story. Caitlin’s cancer was discovered more recently, and her recovery is no less miraculous.
Kane, who doesn’t remember much of his early life struggle with the illness, still feels grateful for the medical treatments that helped speed his recovery. Though if you ask him directly who or what healed him, his answer is quick and obviously heartfelt.
“It was God,” he says simply.
But Kane is still very much aware of the tools God used to bring about that healing. In fact, he feels so strongly about the importance of cancer research he asked his grandmother, Leta Glenn, to start a Relay for Life team to raise money for the American Cancer Society to continue its endeavors.
And tonight, when Relay for Life begins its opening ceremony at 6 p.m. in Nunley Stadium, Kane Fuqua, cancer survivor, will be right there leading the assembled crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. And somewhere in the crowd Caitlin Cooley will be watching.
They will be there in large part because of the research that Relay for Life fund-raisers are helping to support.
Everyone agrees that both Caitlin and Kane are “miracle children.” They have lived through some difficult times, but have come through with their naturally sunny dispositions intact. Both were treated at Vanderbilt Hospital, and both families say they appreciate the wonderful treatment they received at the facility.
Caitlin lost a kidney to Wilm’s tumor, a childhood cancer. Her mother, Belinda Rambo, says the diagnosis left her reeling when she first found out.
“It was shocking,” Belinda said. “You expect it to happen to somebody else.”
Belinda discovered a small lump on her daughter’s side and when doctors made tests they discovered the Wilm’s tumor on her kidney.
” I just said ‘No, it can’t be,'” Belinda recalled. “It’s scary. It’s just really scary. But we came through it,” she added, answering her daughter’s smile.
Belinda says the importance of raising money for cancer research is obvious.
“I know she wouldn’t be sitting here if people didn’t,” Belinda said. “It’s very important.”
To hear a diagnosis of cancer for their child is undoubtedly one of the hardest things a parent could face no matter what the child’s age. But imagine how it would feel to be told your child was actually born with cancer.
That’s exactly the situation Shelley Maples faced soon after her son Kane was born. Kane was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of cancer usually found in babies or young children. As in many cases with this disease, Kane’s cancer was widespread when it was discovered. Exploratory surgery showed the cancer had spread to his entire upper body cavity and could not be treated with surgery. Doctors instead immediately began an aggressive round of chemotherapy in an effort to reduce the tumor.
Miraculously, the treatments were very effective and the tumor was reduced to the size of a quarter which doctors felt could be removed surgically, though the operation would be risky, since the remaining tumor was located on Kane’s spine. At 7-months-old Kane had the second major surgery in his young life.
“They said it was a miracle for it to shrink up like that,” Shelley recalled. The surgery, to the family’s relief, was successful. “We go once a year and he does fine. He’s never had any trace of any cancer. It’s a miracle.”
Kane’s goal this year is for his Relay for Life team to raise $3,000. The team was put together by his grandmother Leta Glenn and husband Levie, along with the help of his other grandmother Sandy Bannon. Since the team is based at the Highway Department, it is called, appropriately, “Paving the Way.” So far the team has raised $2,500 toward that goal, and Kane has the team cheer to get the rest at Nunley Stadium tonight.
“Git’ ‘er done,” he says, with a big grin under the brim of his cap. It’s easy to tell that his doting mom and grandmother know that Kane is standing there because of the very research he is trying to help support. But if you ask Kane why the research is important, he has the best answer of all, an answer filled with hope and faith.
“It’s to find a cure for cancer,” he says.
It’s a goal we all should go out and support at Nunley Stadium tonight.
The 2005 Relay for Life fund-raiser will begin tonight at 6 p.m. in Nunley Stadium. The following is a schedule of some of the activities planned for the event.
* 8:30 p.m.: Live entertainment: 2C – Jeremy McMinn, Nathan McMinn, Brandon Black, Coty Tanner and Brian Brown
Saturday, June 4
PHOTOS INFO:
TOP: Cancer survivors Caitlin Cooley and Kane Fuqua get ready for Relay for Life tonight. Kane will be leading the pledge to the flag at the event.
BOTTOM: Mike Kachaterian and Sharon Walker spent yesterday afternoon placing signs at Nunley Stadium for tonight’s Relay for Life event. (Charles W. Johnson photos)