June 10, 2008

This morning, I covered an event at the Jimmy Everest Cancer Center (at the OU Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital). Members of the Navy were visiting with the children at the cancer center, as part of Oklahoma City Navy Week.

I observed the camaraderie between the children and the naval officers, dressed and pressed in their white uniforms - and it was very bittersweet. The children were absolutely adorable, and just looking at them, you’d never know they were waging the war of their lives.

Here’s a snapshot of some brave people I met today (and they weren’t even the ones wearing a uniform):

Malachi Struthers (8) and his sister Morgan (13). Malachi is battling stage four myoblastoma- meaning the cancer has invaded virtually every part of his little body. Morgan told me that Malachi travels to California every two weeks to receive treatment. For this morning’s event at the Cancer Center, the Struthers family woke up at 5:30 a.m. in order to drive in from Weatherford, Okla. Malachi was very soft-spoken, but clearly appeared to enjoy himself as he built a sailboat out of aluminum foil, with the help of Navy SK2 Roy Moyer of Oklahoma City.

David Haywood (12) and his mother Denae Hooks. David looked so weak and exhausted as the nurse wheeled him into the craft-room of the Cancer Center. When Cmdr. Robert Dews sat down next to him to help David create his American flag out of glitter, feathers and stickers - David spoke little, but seemed visibly warmed at being visited by members of the nation’s armed forces. My heart broke for him when his mother Denae told me his story - David’s been battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia (A.L.L.) for more than two years. He was doing well for a while then in April, his cancer flared up again and he spent 35 days back in the hospital. Denae said she was glad to see his spirits rise when the naval officers came in.

Zoe Kracke (8) and her father Sean. Zoe is one of the blessed - she’s been in remission for A.L.L. for the past two years and has been off treatment for 8 months. Still, she has to come in every month for a prick on the finger and a blood test to make sure the cancer’s staying away. She said she’s gotten so used to that monthly needle in her finger, that it doesn’t even hurt her anymore. Sean said that even though Zoe is in remission, she’s still scared by the cancer, and that the distraction of visitors to the cancer center “gives them a reason to be here. For a child, they don’t always tell you how they’re feeling, even if you ask them all the time - so the distractions make a major difference,” Sean Kracke said.

For more information on cancer, you can check out The Oklahoman’s KnowIt feature. I’ve only known one person in my family who’s had cancer (my grandmother beat pancreatic cancer), but I know many people who’s family members have fought and died from the disease.

I admire patients’ strength to fight and their families’ courage to keep going.

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman

Posted: 10 Jun, 2008 at 3:51 p.m. | By: Oklahoman Intern.