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Westmont Junior High School students and faculty are tipping their caps in support of a classmate locked in a battle with cancer.
The school is hosting a fundraiser for seventh-grader Emily Wheeler, who was diagnosed over the summer with a cancerous brain tumor. To assist Emily and her family, the school is participating in the “Hats Off for Cancer” event in which students and community members are donating hats of all kinds for kids battling the disease
And Emily thinks that is pretty cool.
“I was very excited when I heard about it,” the seventh-grader said. “The support I have gotten from my friends, classmates and teachers has been amazing, and the hat donations are a great idea.”
As part of the fundraiser, Westmont Junior High and Westmont High School will be collecting brand new hats that are logo friendly and child appropriate through today. The hats must be new due to the weak immune systems of the cancer patients.
Donations will also be taken at the WJHS Open House today and Thursday. Kids at both schools can donate $1 to the cause to wear a hat to school all day.
The national Hats Off for Cancer non-profit charity group has donated 1 million new hats to hospitals, camps and individuals worldwide since 1996, according to the organization’s website.
The program is being organized at the junior high by teacher Lisa Kosin. When school officials found out about Emily’s cancer diagnosis and surgery over the summer, they decided to make it happen, Kosin said.
“Between both the high school and junior high, it would be nice to raise at least $600 the day they get to pay $1 to wear a hat to school,” Kosin said. “We are also receiving donations from members of the community and many of Emily's past teachers.”
Trying to live a normal life
Emily had been a typical, active young girl leading up to this summer. She played sports, hung out with friends and was beginning to look forward to seventh grade. Then she started to develop severe headaches.
“We took her to the hospital, and she was diagnosed with a brain tumor,” her mother Mary Wheeler said. “We were stunned when we found out that she had cancer and needed brain surgery. It was a shock to us.”
In July, Emily began treatments at Children’s Memorial Hospital, where she had surgery to remove the tumor. But because of swelling in her brain, not all of it could be removed, her mother said.
Westmont Junior High School students and faculty are tipping their caps in support of a classmate locked in a battle with cancer.
The school is hosting a fundraiser for seventh-grader Emily Wheeler, who was diagnosed over the summer with a cancerous brain tumor. To assist Emily and her family, the school is participating in the “Hats Off for Cancer” event in which students and community members are donating hats of all kinds for kids battling the disease
And Emily thinks that is pretty cool.
“I was very excited when I heard about it,” the seventh-grader said. “The support I have gotten from my friends, classmates and teachers has been amazing, and the hat donations are a great idea.”
As part of the fundraiser, Westmont Junior High and Westmont High School will be collecting brand new hats that are logo friendly and child appropriate through today. The hats must be new due to the weak immune systems of the cancer patients.
Donations will also be taken at the WJHS Open House today and Thursday. Kids at both schools can donate $1 to the cause to wear a hat to school all day.
The national Hats Off for Cancer non-profit charity group has donated 1 million new hats to hospitals, camps and individuals worldwide since 1996, according to the organization’s website.
The program is being organized at the junior high by teacher Lisa Kosin. When school officials found out about Emily’s cancer diagnosis and surgery over the summer, they decided to make it happen, Kosin said.
“Between both the high school and junior high, it would be nice to raise at least $600 the day they get to pay $1 to wear a hat to school,” Kosin said. “We are also receiving donations from members of the community and many of Emily's past teachers.”
Trying to live a normal life
Emily had been a typical, active young girl leading up to this summer. She played sports, hung out with friends and was beginning to look forward to seventh grade. Then she started to develop severe headaches.
“We took her to the hospital, and she was diagnosed with a brain tumor,” her mother Mary Wheeler said. “We were stunned when we found out that she had cancer and needed brain surgery. It was a shock to us.”
In July, Emily began treatments at Children’s Memorial Hospital, where she had surgery to remove the tumor. But because of swelling in her brain, not all of it could be removed, her mother said.
She has since gone through two rounds of chemotherapy. But through it all, Emily has missed a very minimal amount of school, and continues to be strong in her fight, Mary Wheeler said.
“When I first found out I had cancer, I did not believe it,” Emily said. “I was angry, sad and had so many feelings. I really thought this was some other kid it was happening to, not me.”
Now, Emily said she feels fine. Her headaches have gone away, and she has been in school and spending time with her friends.
She was expected to go for an MRI last week, and based on what doctors found, they would determine her next step in the fight.
“Once the results come in, a board of doctors will discuss what to do next,” her mother said. “Some of those options could include radiation therapy, more chemotherapy or other options.”
Right now, Emily said it is important for her to stay positive and live as normal of a life as a seventh-grader as possible.
Huge support from the school, community and doctors
One of the big things that has kept the family strong during the ordeal has been the support they have received, Mary Wheeler said.
The support has come not only from the doctors at Children’s Memorial, whom she said have been wonderful, but from the community and Emily’s school.
“The amount of support we have had in this has been amazing, and that has been a big help for us,” her mother said.
Help has been extended from school as well.
Kosin said Emily has raised awareness of cancer among her classmates.
“Many fully admitted that they did not know why Emily was allowed to wear different head coverings or that something might be ailing her,” Kosin said. “As usual, our great students are stepping up and showing her their support. We are also receiving donations from members of the community and many of Emily's past teachers.”
Emily said her friends and classmates have offered support to her during the fight.
“They have been so helpful in bringing me assignments if I do miss class, and just being there for me,” Emily said.
