Going The EXTRA MILE
After Cancer Diagnosis, Community Rallies To Help Broadway Family Raise Funds
Posted: October 13, 2012
Sam Whetzel loves to run, whether at his family’s Broadway home or around the playground at recess.
In July, however, what began as a routine trip to the pediatrician stopped the Whetzel family in their tracks.
“We were thinking he had an ear infection, and the next morning he’s getting a spinal tap done so they could see if the cancer spread to his spine,” recalls his mother, Abbey. “It was so shocking and sudden.”
Leukemia was racing through his typically active, healthy 11-year-old body, initially showing signs that masqueraded as the flu: painful joints, fatigue, high fever … and a smattering of mysterious bruises.
The Whetzels hit the ground running on the long path to recovery, together with their neighbors, friends and even strangers from around the world.
Ready for anything
Although he’s been in remission since early August, the next three and a half years are daunting — chemotherapy, transfusions of platelets and red blood cells, and medication to combat side effects of both.
Depending on his condition, Sam makes the three-hour round trip to the University of Virginia hospital up to three times per week for treatment. If their “new normal” consisted of regularly scheduled visits and getting instruction from his homebound teacher to keep caught up on 6th grade studies, things would be fairly calm.
But molehills, such as his father Mike’s contraction of a cold or an allergic reaction to a round of chemo, can quickly grow into mountains. One cold already had hospitalized Sam for a week.
“Doctors say to try and let him have as normal life as possible, but you didn’t go the hospital the last time you had a cold,” Abbey adds. “That’s not normal ... so it’s being ready for whatever. You just get used to that.”
Rising to the occasion
Mike and Abbey own the Staff of Life Bread company, baking goods out of their home-based kitchen for distribution around restaurants and farmers markets in the Valley.
Managing a small business is taxing enough; with Sam’s unpredictable schedule now demanding their time, Abbey is frequently pulled from the kitchen and Mike isn’t able to sell at markets consistently. Medical bills loom.
But for as turbulent as the Whetzel’s life may be, their support system is equally exceptional. The Broadway community flew into fundraising action after learning of Sam’s diagnosis.
“Every time we went to the mailbox, there’d be something,” says Abbey. As word of their need spread, more efforts were raised.
Sharon Skates, who graduated with Abbey from Broadway High School, helped raise $2,700 in a marathon of baking: selling around 1,900 cupcakes. “The way the community jumped in to help was awesome,” Skates says.
At the diagnosis news, Abbey’s cousins Kevin and Carol Nisly started spreading a different kind of virus — making Sam’s story “viral” on the Internet. Through their Ohio-based nonprofit organization, aLittleBirdie.org, people all over the world could see Sam’s story. Online donations came in from as near as their hometown to as far as Asia and Europe, raising $15,000 by the end of August.
“Our culture seems very selfish, but if you give people in our culture a way to give that’s convenient, simple and painless, they’re still willing to do it,” Kevin says.
At the Harrisonburg Farmers Market, Mike says customers have simply overpaid for items, knowing the money will help their family. Others volunteer helping hands in the bakery.
“It’s so hard for me to accept help, and it was at first,” Abbey says. “But I’m so grateful.”
Racing to aid
Meanwhile, faculty at John C. Myers Elementary also cooked up a plan.
Fourth grade teacher Scott Showalter and assistant principal Tammy Shearer both fondly remember Sam and twin brother Joe for their star student behavior. They recall, especially, Sam’s penchant for perpetual motion.
He’s often too weak to run now, but his loved ones can pound pavement for him. “I’m a runner too,” says Shearer, “I can relate well ... and understand that passion and drive.”
Runners and walkers will set out for a 5K at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 27, beginning and ending at Plan B cafe, 202 North Main St., Broadway.
A suggested donation of $15 gives participants a t-shirt featuring the logo Sam designed himself, refreshments and a chance to meet Sam at the finish line. Registration continues up to the morning of the event. All proceeds will go directly to the Whetzel family.
Day at a time
Sam’s journal entries on his CaringBridge account — a blogging-style website where the family can write about progress, and friends can leave notes of encouragement — have ranged from having “the best day ever” when treatment effect subside, to lamenting over a blood sugar spike after eating too much of mom’s bread.
“You don’t see him get frustrated a lot,” Mike says. “For the most part he’s just like, ‘Let’s get this done.’ ”
Contact Samantha Cole at scole@dnronline.com or 574-6274
In July, however, what began as a routine trip to the pediatrician stopped the Whetzel family in their tracks.
“We were thinking he had an ear infection, and the next morning he’s getting a spinal tap done so they could see if the cancer spread to his spine,” recalls his mother, Abbey. “It was so shocking and sudden.”
Leukemia was racing through his typically active, healthy 11-year-old body, initially showing signs that masqueraded as the flu: painful joints, fatigue, high fever … and a smattering of mysterious bruises.
The Whetzels hit the ground running on the long path to recovery, together with their neighbors, friends and even strangers from around the world.
Ready for anything
Although he’s been in remission since early August, the next three and a half years are daunting — chemotherapy, transfusions of platelets and red blood cells, and medication to combat side effects of both.
Depending on his condition, Sam makes the three-hour round trip to the University of Virginia hospital up to three times per week for treatment. If their “new normal” consisted of regularly scheduled visits and getting instruction from his homebound teacher to keep caught up on 6th grade studies, things would be fairly calm.
But molehills, such as his father Mike’s contraction of a cold or an allergic reaction to a round of chemo, can quickly grow into mountains. One cold already had hospitalized Sam for a week.
“Doctors say to try and let him have as normal life as possible, but you didn’t go the hospital the last time you had a cold,” Abbey adds. “That’s not normal ... so it’s being ready for whatever. You just get used to that.”
Rising to the occasion
Mike and Abbey own the Staff of Life Bread company, baking goods out of their home-based kitchen for distribution around restaurants and farmers markets in the Valley.
Managing a small business is taxing enough; with Sam’s unpredictable schedule now demanding their time, Abbey is frequently pulled from the kitchen and Mike isn’t able to sell at markets consistently. Medical bills loom.
But for as turbulent as the Whetzel’s life may be, their support system is equally exceptional. The Broadway community flew into fundraising action after learning of Sam’s diagnosis.
“Every time we went to the mailbox, there’d be something,” says Abbey. As word of their need spread, more efforts were raised.
Sharon Skates, who graduated with Abbey from Broadway High School, helped raise $2,700 in a marathon of baking: selling around 1,900 cupcakes. “The way the community jumped in to help was awesome,” Skates says.
At the diagnosis news, Abbey’s cousins Kevin and Carol Nisly started spreading a different kind of virus — making Sam’s story “viral” on the Internet. Through their Ohio-based nonprofit organization, aLittleBirdie.org, people all over the world could see Sam’s story. Online donations came in from as near as their hometown to as far as Asia and Europe, raising $15,000 by the end of August.
“Our culture seems very selfish, but if you give people in our culture a way to give that’s convenient, simple and painless, they’re still willing to do it,” Kevin says.
At the Harrisonburg Farmers Market, Mike says customers have simply overpaid for items, knowing the money will help their family. Others volunteer helping hands in the bakery.
“It’s so hard for me to accept help, and it was at first,” Abbey says. “But I’m so grateful.”
Racing to aid
Meanwhile, faculty at John C. Myers Elementary also cooked up a plan.
Fourth grade teacher Scott Showalter and assistant principal Tammy Shearer both fondly remember Sam and twin brother Joe for their star student behavior. They recall, especially, Sam’s penchant for perpetual motion.
He’s often too weak to run now, but his loved ones can pound pavement for him. “I’m a runner too,” says Shearer, “I can relate well ... and understand that passion and drive.”
Runners and walkers will set out for a 5K at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 27, beginning and ending at Plan B cafe, 202 North Main St., Broadway.
A suggested donation of $15 gives participants a t-shirt featuring the logo Sam designed himself, refreshments and a chance to meet Sam at the finish line. Registration continues up to the morning of the event. All proceeds will go directly to the Whetzel family.
Day at a time
Sam’s journal entries on his CaringBridge account — a blogging-style website where the family can write about progress, and friends can leave notes of encouragement — have ranged from having “the best day ever” when treatment effect subside, to lamenting over a blood sugar spike after eating too much of mom’s bread.
“You don’t see him get frustrated a lot,” Mike says. “For the most part he’s just like, ‘Let’s get this done.’ ”
Contact Samantha Cole at scole@dnronline.com or 574-6274