Shades of yellow and gold attire are shining throughout the district today, Sept. 30, as the district “goes gold” in support of increasing awareness of and the need for research funding for childhood cancers.
September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and that has a particular special significance to Shawne Demberg’s Elementary School kindergarteners. They understand the importance of being helpful and kind to children with cancer because of their classmate Jack Brooks.
Jack has brain and spine cancer. But to classmates, Jack is just a normal kindergartener and friend who is happy to talk about his Spiderman-colored torso cast, his leg braces, the “bump” he has on his head because of a shunt, books in his classroom’s library and the physical education and art classes he and his peers attend.
The district has provided the assistance he needs to be in school, but what makes his parents Elliot and Megan Brooks most happy is the kindness Jack’s peers have shown to him, which has been so important to his success at school. They visited his class today to thank them and answer any questions his classmates might have about his disease.
“I wanted to thank all of you for helping Jack,” said Mrs. Brooks, who brought coloring sheets featuring a big ribbon surrounded by a circle of children. “Jack has a disease called cancer. You can’t catch it. That makes Jack special. You notice he’s different. He wears braces because his legs need a little help walking. His brain works a bit differently. He has a little tube in his brain to drain fluid to his belly. He has a cast on to help his spine.”
Jack interjected while happily showing off his torso cast: “And, when I get it off, I’m gonna wiggle like spaghetti. And I’m going to swim and do a slam dunk in the pool.”
“Jack takes medication twice a day to help his body fight cancer,” his mother continued. “Kids and adults like him are super strong because they are fighting cancer.”
Jack again happily interjected: “And the back of my shirt says Jack strong!”
Jack’s father told the class that once Jack’s cast is removed, he’ll be fitted with a removable one. Mr. Brooks even offered to video the cast removal because the class might like to watch that. (They absolutely do.) Did they have any suggestions about what color that should be?
“Orange,” offered one student.
“Orange with blue,” suggested another.
Other multi-colored suggestions were proposed. But pink was out of the question.
Jack was adamant about one important thing, which he was quick to joyfully remind his mother.
“Mommy, all my friends here are helping me,” he said.
Mom definitely knew that, adding: “And, you help them, too.”
Jack’s classmates clearly understood the concepts of being helpful and kind as they are among the many attributes the district reinforces to all through its character education curriculum.
“You all have been so kind to Jack,” Mrs. Brooks again told them before everyone gathered for a group photo. “You are friends all the way around. Thank you for supporting Jack.”