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Girl Fighting Cancer Inspires Classmates

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2007

Updated: 12/03/2007 08:11 pm

BAYSHORE BEAUTIFUL - On the Thanksgiving turkey feathers her preschool students made before the holiday, Bayshore Christian teacher Michelle Ho wrote the things for which the youngsters were thankful.

Five-year-old Hannah Douglas said she was thankful that Jesus is in her heart, that she can play now and that God has made her this way.

"She's got wisdom beyond her years," Ho said. "She's been a blessing just knowing her."

Hannah has been fighting neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer that attacks the nervous system, since she was 19 months old. She was given the slimmest chance of survival at her diagnosis in 2004 and at a relapse in 2005 but has surpassed expectations.

Her family has spent three years shuttling among hospitals, including St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, Shands at the University of Florida and New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Hannah completed experimental treatment in October 2006 and is in remission, although she continues with monthly checkups and tests and receives physical therapy.

"As of now, she's a normal little girl," Michael Douglas said of his only child.

Now that her parents aren't immersed in the overwhelming treatments, they have turned some attention to raising awareness and money for research. They started at Bayshore Christian, 3909 S. MacDill Ave.

Since September, which was National Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, the preschool and elementary division have raised more than $3,300 with fundraisers such as the Fruit Loop-A-Thon, a snack cart and holiday card sales. The proceeds were donated to The Loneliest Road Campaign, which raises money for neuroblastoma research.

The middle and high school divisions have taken up the second phase and are selling awareness bracelets, participating in an overnight lock-in at the gymnasium and educating friends and family. Those proceeds will be donated to Lunch for Life, another organization dedicated to supporting neuroblastoma research.

"Everybody wanted to do something. The benefit is to Hannah and to them," elementary Principal Gee Gee Erickson said. "This is their little act of faith. Hannah is one of us; she's family. Hannah is our hero."

Because pediatric cancer accounts for a smaller percentage of cancers overall, the research isn't well-funded, said Hannah's mother, Erica Byda.

Nationally, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation estimates 12,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, including 650 with neuroblastoma.

"It's a smaller population, and they can't speak up for themselves," Byda said. "It's raising awareness that these kids aren't being taken care of."

Byda and Douglas said they are fortunate to have health insurance and flexibility to seek treatment outside Florida.

Still, Hannah, who loves having her face painted, is a ham for the camera and is into swimming and dance, isn't out of the woods, her father said.

"It changes your world upside down," Douglas said. "All these kids are brave and courageous. It's inspiring. It's not too hard to say, 'I've got to do something.'"

LEARN MORE

•To read more about Hannah Douglas and her battle with cancer, go to www.caring bridge.org/fl/hannahbannana.

•To learn more about the organizations receiving fundraising proceeds from Bayshore Christian School, go to www.loneliestroad.org and www.lunchforlife.org.

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 835-2114 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com.

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