Page 5 - fin1(1)(2) (3) (1)

Brave Boy Calls wishes come true over the week- him to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s
end. He will be visiting the Coca Hospital at Vanderbilt University
Halt to Cancer Cola factory Saturday morning, in Medical Center where the doctors
Treatment a limo, the ride donated by a busi- diagnosed him with rhabdomyo-
nessman.
sarcoma, a rare form of cancer.
A 12-year old boy who has battled Jeffrey McGee, a minister from This type of cancer is made up
a rare form of cancer since he was Edgemont Baptist Church who set of cells that normally develop
7 has made a bold decision. He is up a bank account for donations, is into skeletal muscles and is more
stopping his treatments so he can asking stores in the area to cover common in children than adults,
go home and be with his family. up their signs with messages to according to the American Cancer
Alex so when he rides through Society.
Alex Rodriguez is aware of what
his decision means. So is his home- town he can see people supporting “The tumor on his spine was grow-
town of Shelbyville, Tenn., which him. ing so fast, it paralyzed him. He
has rallied around the boy who is was losing the ability to walk,” said
since he was 7,” said Camacho. Woman gives birth to 13-pound
facing such a stark decision with “We don’t know what Camacho. “He’s been going through a lot
such maturity and good humor. “Now he’s on a lot of pain medica-
“I had the opportunity to meet Alex kind of time frame we’re Alex had surgery on his spine, a tion and hospice is coming in.” baby
bar and two “cages” - cylinder de-
this summer,” Dr. Tracy Lampley, vices in the spine to replace discs DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman has given birth to a boy
principal of Harris Middle School in,” McGee said. - were put into his back. He had to McGee estimates after a benefit weighing 13 pounds and 13 ounces — without the aid of surgery.
told ABCNews.com. “He is a very learn how to walk again after the next week, the donations will total
courageous young man to have a surgery and received radiation as around $10,000 to help pay for Asher Stewardson was born Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Des
very mature adult outlook on life. Florists in town are putting to- well as chemotherapy. hospice care. He doesn’t know how Moines, measuring 23 ½ inches long. Fifteen months ago, his brother,
It’s amazing as a 12-year old he is gether blue ribbons for people to long that care will be needed. Judah, arrived weighing 12 pounds and an ounce at birth.
really able to face the opportuni- hang outside on their mailboxes or The treatments worked, but only “We don’t know what kind of time
ties and challenges that he has in street lamps to show their support. for two years. frame we’re in,” McGee said. Mercy officials say only a tenth of 1 percent of all newborns weigh more
his remaining time.” Harris Middle School, where Ro- When Alex was in the sixth grade, than 11 pounds at birth.
driguez attended sixth grade and Donations are being accepted at The boys’ mother, Kendall Stewardson, endured six hours of labor with-
“He’s just a wonderful little boy,” “He went for all of his scans and the Alex Rodriguez Benefit Ac-
Alex’s grandmother Carolyn Ca- Camacho is head custodian, is run- tests and they said everything count, Peoples Bank of Bedford out an epidural injection. She says she and her husband, Joshua, wanted
macho said. “He’s always happy. ning a drive called “Ribbons for was gone,” his grandmother said. County, 1122 North Main Street, to avoid cesarean delivery because that wouldn’t have been good for her
No matter what he’s always happy Alex” where they sell blue ribbons “Then two or three months later Shelbyville, Tenn. 37160. or Asher.
and he doesn’t like to talk about for 50 cents apiece. Money raised it came back and it hit him pretty
his cancer. It makes him sad and from ribbon sales and donations hard.”
he wants to be happy.” will go towards hospice care for Terminally ill Ohioan dies on day of son’s funeral
Rodriguez and so far ribbon sales Once the cancer came back Rodri-
Alex’s school and neighbors have have totaled more than $1,200. guez again resumed chemotherapy LOGAN, Ohio (AP) — A terminally ill woman has Another son, Ralph Sowers III, told 911 dispatchers
been touched by the boy and are and radiation. died days after her husband fatally shot their adult that he witnessed the shootings by his stepfather,
trying to make his last days cheer- “Everybody has been so wonder- Camacho said he has tumors in son and her two sisters in front of her at a southeast- Paul “David” Gilkey, who was found dead on a porch.
ful, raising money for his hospice ful,” Comacho said. his legs, arms, shoulders, near his ern Ohio home and then killed himself. Sowers said his stepfather let him leave the scene
care and taking care of his bucket Alex’s childhood has been wracked heart, in his lungs and there may Authorities said the shootings last Monday in rural because he has children.
list. with pain and filled with surgeries be more. Logan apparently stemmed from family tensions
and harsh medicine. When Alex over the care of the cancer-stricken woman, 59-year-
Alex has two wishes, to tour the Camacho said that Alex tried ev- In Norfolk, Virginia, a woman can’t
Coca Cola factory in Atlanta, Ga., was 7 he went to the doctor for his erything, but the tumors kept com- old Darlene Gilkey. She was not hurt in the shootings FACT go out without wearing a corset.
and go to the indoor water park at back aches. ing back. The only choice left is and was taken to a medical facility afterward. (There was a civil-service job- for
the Wilderness Resort in Tennes- “We didn’t know what was wrong experimental treatments in Texas, Her daughter-in-law, Heather Sowers, said Gilkey men only- called a corset inspector.)
see. with him,” his grandmother told but he does not want to leave died Saturday, hours before the funeral for her
ABCNews.com.His family took 38-year-old son, Leroy Gilkey of Columbus.
Rodriguez is seeing one of his home. So Alex made his decision.
4 5