The night time earlier than her first chemotherapy remedy, Alexandria “Alex” Palmer wished to cheer for St. Vincent-St. Mary Excessive College one final time.
Together with her arm extraordinarily sore and potential issues too dangerous after surgical procedure to insert a port close to her clavicle, that may not be the case.
However the 18-year-old senior from Cuyahoga Falls stays upbeat after a mass in her left foot was recognized as Ewing sarcoma in mid-January. Two weeks in the past, she realized the most cancers had metastasized to 2 spots on her lung.
The bone most cancers is primarily present in youngsters and younger adults ages 10 to twenty. About 50 circumstances of her variant are found every year within the U.S., pal Gus Khayyat advised an estimated crowd of 1,200 Tuesday night time at a “Pink Out” — her favourite shade — for Alex because the Irish hosted Walsh Jesuit for a boys basketball sport.
Two rounds of aggressive chemotherapy started Wednesday at Cleveland Clinic, with foot surgical procedure to take away many of the tumor doable after the primary spherical. Hours earlier than, Alex, a 5-foot spitfire who was a flyer on the cheerleading squad, confirmed no trace of concern.
“I don’t know the way she’s doing it; I don’t know the way she’s staying so robust, however she’s a fighter,” her mom, Regina Palmer, mentioned after the sport. “She’s spunky and she or he’s feisty. She could also be brief, however she’s mighty.
“She’s decided and she or he’s able to battle.”
All are amazed at how Alex is dealing with what lies forward. At 7:18 a.m. Wednesday, she wrote on her Instagram story, “The sky is pink this morning as I am going into my first spherical of chemotherapy,” including an emoji of palms making a coronary heart.
“If it occurred to me, I don’t suppose I might be as optimistic as she is,” mentioned Khayyat, 16, a junior from Akron. “She’s laughing, she’s cracking jokes. She’s virtually like she’s the identical particular person. For me it’s so inspiring to look at somebody undergo that and be so glad about their state of affairs, on the lookout for the small issues and being grateful for the state of affairs that they’ve.”
Senior Georgia Deitrick, an 18-year-old from Akron who has cheered with Alex for 4 years, felt the identical manner about her pal even because the information of Palmer’s most cancers “got here out of nowhere.”
“She’s a bubbly particular person. She’s at all times there for her pals,” Deitrick mentioned. “Particularly now, such a tough time … Usually it might be arduous to not get down on your self, however she’s been in nice spirits about it. That’s actually simply proven her character.”
For months, Alex thought she had a sprain, a torn ligament or stress fracture in her foot from cheering. She tried a strolling boot however obtained no aid. An X-ray revealed nothing.
Three days earlier than Christmas, dad and mom Jim and Regina Palmer realized that an MRI had revealed a mass in Alex’s foot. That day, a surgeon advised her mom it seemed like most cancers.
“It wasn’t for certain … they nonetheless wanted a biopsy,” Regina Palmer mentioned. “Primarily based on the dialog I had with the physician … he had seen it earlier than. The dialog we had and the best way he spoke to me and the issues he advised me — statistics about most cancers and the way this occurs with children her age — I knew that he knew that’s what it was.”
Not desirous to spoil Christmas, the Palmers held off breaking the information to Alex till the suspicions had been confirmed by a Jan. 11 biopsy.
“It was quite a bit,” Alex mentioned of the analysis.
“All the things’s been turned the wrong way up since,” Jim Palmer mentioned. “It was one thing that completely blindsided us. It’s simply been overwhelming.”
The shock waves stored approaching Jan. 24, when a CT scan revealed Alex’s most cancers had unfold to her lung. However as Khayyat advised the group on the LeBron James Area, a PET scan, EKG and echocardiogram confirmed the remainder of Alex’s physique was clear.
“We weren’t anticipating that, both. We thought it was nonetheless early and we didn’t suppose that was doable but,” Regina Palmer mentioned of the spots in Alex’s lung. “The docs appear to be optimistic about that. They are saying that chemo works nice on that they usually’re hoping that can go away fast.”
Medical bills are a priority for Jim Palmer, 58, a Realtor who retired six years in the past from the Akron Police Division, and Regina Palmer, 47, who works remotely in IT for Huntington Financial institution. Additionally they have a son, Evan, 20, a former STVM and Padua Franciscan soccer participant who attends Stark State School and plans to switch to the College of Akron.
Over the previous month, the neighborhood has rallied in help of the Palmers with an #AlexStrong marketing campaign.
A household pal created a GoFundMe account — https://gofund.me/a84cc4f0 — that has been posted on social media. As of Wednesday morning, it confirmed greater than $57,000 raised towards its $75,000 purpose. The bookstore is taking orders by Friday for T-shirts and wristbands. The varsity’s half of the 50-50 raffle Tuesday night time went to the GoFundMe account.
“I don’t begin remedy till tomorrow and there’s already this a lot help. It’s simply wonderful,” Alex mentioned on Tuesday.
“We thought our shut pals would attempt to assist us out, however we by no means anticipated it to get as large because it did. We’re so grateful,” Regina Palmer mentioned.
“The outpouring of help, it’s been nice, however I might do something to not be on this state of affairs,” Jim Palmer mentioned.
Jim Palmer mentioned he expects Alex’s chemotherapy timeline to be eight months to a 12 months. Together with his daughter already accepted to Ohio State College, he mentioned it’s doable she may bear additional remedy on the James Most cancers Hospital and Solove Analysis Institute in Columbus.
Tuesday night time could have offered some uplifting recollections to get them by the tough days forward. With Alex agonizing and rooting from the entrance row, the Irish rallied within the fourth quarter for a 48-45 victory.
Additionally joined by Ava Heiser, 17, a senior from Tallmadge, Deitrick concluded the feedback of Alex’s three pals earlier than the pregame prayer.
“Alex, we’re so fortunate to have you ever as our greatest pal,” Deitrick advised Alex, standing alongside them. “Please always remember we’re at all times there to help you thru something, as I’m certain you’ve realized over the previous few weeks. We love you a lot.”
The pink-clad scholar part responded, a drum beating to the mantra of “We Love Alex.”
“It was just a little overwhelming, however it was good,” Alex mentioned after the sport. “Even the opposite staff’s sporting pink.”
Statistics for Ewing sarcoma have one Fb pal praying for a miracle. In line with stjude.org, sufferers ages 15-19 have a survival charge of about 56%; these recognized after the illness has unfold lower than 30%. However the Cleveland Clinic web site cites ongoing analysis and newer remedies which can be permitting individuals to stay longer cancer-free.
Regina Palmer mentioned they equate such daunting odds to a basketball sport.
“We are saying, ‘It might be 50% or it could be 30%,’” she mentioned. “’However while you’re within the fourth quarter and also you’re tied, it’s nonetheless 50% and you’ll nonetheless win.’”
