Can’t keep Roney away from the game
Andrew’s Roney, a cancer survivor, was determined to return to sports he loves
Andrew sophomore, a cancer survivor, determined to return to sports he loves.
Andrew sophomore Tyler Roney cannot raise his left eyebrow.
But he can imitate actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s “People’s Eyebrow” and raise his right brow with ease.
Moving his eyebrows, smiling, frowning or winking was never a given for Roney early in his life.
Before he was 2 years old, Roney was diagnosed with deformational plagiocephaly — a misshapen head — and had to wear headgear to correct it.
When he was 6, he was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. He had a tumor that not only paralyzed his face but also caused cancer in his lungs.
A year in and out of UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital, with regular chemotherapy and radiation treatments, helped Roney survive the cancer, and he was able to return to what he loved best: playing sports.
“After cancer, I’m lucky to not have that many bad effects,” Roney said. “My smile is a little different. It’s harder for me to have a full smile. Simple stuff is hard. The nerves on my left side are messed up. But the way everything on my face is now makes me who I am. It’s unique.”
Although many sporting activities have been shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, Roney was playing, practicing and participating in camps with four teams in July: Andrew’s baseball and soccer teams, the Tinley Park Bobcats soccer team and the Lincoln-Way Vipers baseball team.
“I always had the drive to keep playing,” he said. “When I was in the hospital, I wanted to leave to play with my teams. I love both sports, and I had the drive to keep playing.”
Roney, 15, said Comer Children’s Hospital staff members would play catch or kick a soccer ball around with him.
“I’m grateful,” he said. “Cancer changed me as a person and made me who I am. Without it, I might be just sitting at home and not working as hard as I am. It taught me to be more determined and outgoing.”
Andrew soccer coach Loren Zolk said Roney is an inspiration to other players in the program.
“We’re just really glad to have him,” Zolk said. “He’s dedicated. He’s here every day. He does very well dealing with adults. He’s a good leader by example. He is always on task. He has a great work ethic and a great attitude. He never gets down, He’s extremely polite.
“It’s refreshing to have kids like that. He’s setting a good example, and hopefully the kids and his peers are paying attention. He’s a stellar kid and is an example of the type of athlete we are looking for.”