Young survivor taking strides

Cancer is not all bad, says Corner Brook boy

Steven Kendell and his family know that “cancer sucks,” and they’ve even got the T-shirts that say so.

But in Kendell’s mind, cancer doesn’t only suck — it rocks, too.

That thought came about just recently during his last art therapy appointment at the Janeway Children’s Hospital in St. John’s.

“I was thinking I saw how cancer sucks,” he said, “I didn’t really think (about) the good side of cancer, too.” What good side? “I made all kinds of friends,” he said — people he said he never would have met if he didn’t have cancer.

“I lived in St. John’s, which is a lot bigger than Corner Brook,” he added.

Then there was the opportunity to see and do some new things including watching the St. John’s Santa Claus parade. It also meant the opportunity to have a wish granted by the Children’s Wish Foundation.”

And finally, having cancer meant he got to experience living at a Ronald McDonald House.

“I was the first person to ever check into the St. John’s Ronald McDonald House,” said Steven. The home provide him and his family with more than just a place to stay.

“It didn’t feel like a hotel or anything,” he said. “It felt like a home, or as they say, a home away from home. It’s like a normal home.”

The home now means so much to Kendell that he and his family will give back to Ronald McDonald House today by participating in the second annual Red Shoe Crew: Walk for Families in Corner Brook. The city walk is one of 31 taking place across the province to raise money for the house.

Kendell, who walks either with a cane or a walker, said it just feels like the right thing to do.

“So, I decided even though I would be with a walker, I’m walking or rolling,” he said.

“It’s not how many feet he goes, it’s the fact he wants to do this for the house,” said his mom Doreen Noseworthy. “He is quite a hero.”

Noseworthy said her son’s battle with cancer has been a long journey that isn’t quite over. Steven is now back in school in Grade 7 at G.C. Rowe Junior High and, while his prognosis is “awesome,” his mom said he still has a way to go in terms of his rehabilitation. “His poor little body has been through so much.”

In late March to early April 2012, Noseworthy said, she knew her son was quite ill, but couldn’t figure out what was wrong. After many visits to the doctor, he underwent a CAT scan that detected something wasn’t right.

Kendell was admitted to Western Memorial Regional Hospital on May 1. On May 2 came the diagnosis of a brain tumour and by May 3 he was airlifted to the Janeway.

Originally, the family was told there was an 85 per cent chance the tumour was not cancer. Still, Noseworthy said they had to deal with “the fear and anxiety and the sheer panic” of the situation.

Following surgery to remove the tumour located in his brain, they found out it was cancer. The official type was identified as medulloblastoma.

The next 15 months were spent in St. John’s where Kendell underwent 30 treatments of radiation and 30 treatments of chemotherapy at the Janeway. He spent 72 days in hospital and only got to go home to Corner Brook for a bit in October.

While Noseworthy and her son stayed in St. John’s, husband Richard Kendell returned home with their other two daughters, Megan, 16, and Steven’s twin, Sarah.

Besides dealing with the impact of having a child with cancer, Noseworthy said they had to deal with the separation of the family and the financial impact.

For a while, they were able to stay at a friend’s apartment in the city and also rented at a local hotel.

“But as soon as the Ronald McDonald House opened, it became our home away from home,” said Noseworthy, echoing her son.

The shelter offered them more than just a place to stay at a modest rate. She said the volunteers and staff respect your privacy and need for space, but are also very concerned, loving and supportive when you’re able to and wanting to talk.

“So there’s a really nice balance between giving families the need to have privacy and the time to grieve as things come up.”

Noseworthy said grief not only comes from dealing with a loss of life. lt also comes with changes in everyday things — watching him lose his hair, become less mobile and no longer be able to do the things he used to do like play sports and dance.

“As painful as it was, every day I count our blessings when I look at my son.”

That’s why she’ll be beside him for every step he makes on the walk.

The city walk is being organized by crew leaders Jeremy Cleveland and Susan Oxford.

Last year more than $10,000 was raised at the Corner Brook walk. This year the goal is to match or exceed last year’s total said Cleve- land.

The walk, sponsored by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, will take place in Margaret Bowater Park. Registration is at 1 p.m. with the walk scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. The walk will be followed by a barbecue.

The St. John’s walk takes place Sunday at Techniplex, 39 Churchill Ave. Registration starts at 1 p.m., with the walk beginning at 2.

A celebration of family will follow.