Schools help afflicted battle devastating disease

March 22--One of the most terrifying moments any person can experience in a lifetime is being diagnosed with cancer. Just as terrifying -- if not more -- would be for a loved one to be diagnosed with the debilitating disease.

Imagine hearing that news as a talented teacher who dreamed of enlightening young minds for decades unburdened by a disease or perhaps as an eighth-grader on the threshold of high school. Think about being a parent, holding the hand of your child and hearing the doctor say the apple of your eye has a recurring, cancerous brain tumor.

For several Glynn County School System teachers, students and families, that frightening thought has become a reality.

The battles are tough, but they're not facing them alone. Students and faculty, as well as their families, are doing what they can to help monetarily and spiritually. They are a welcome rush of moral support to those who need extra shoulders to lean on.

In many ways, schools have become the heart of the community.

At FACES Pre-Kindergarten Center and Leaps and Bounds, everyone from the youngest pupil to the teachers and staff is on Team Alexa.

Alexa Hartenstein, one of the school's students, has been suffering from a recurring cancerous brain tumor since the age of 2.

But photos of her seen all over the school -- including on posters and T-shirts -- show the now 4-year-old girl as the fighter she is, flexing her little arm muscles.

The school devoted all of February to supporting Alexa and her family through a series of fundraising events and activities.

They went above and beyond for one of their own, and at a special Family Fun Night fundraising event, Alexa's father, Andrew Hartenstein, said the family has simply been overwhelmed by all the school has done.

He knew her school would help support his daughter, but he was not expecting everyone to go to such lengths as he looked around the crowded room. Whole families came out and danced all night to a student-teacher talent show, all while making donations and purchasing from the bake sale fundraiser.

It is the same way at the school attended by Katie Phillips and Ansley Jones, two eighth-grade students at Jane Macon Middle School who were diagnosed with leukemia at the beginning of this last school year. There has been no shortage of support for these two tough girls.

What began with their fellow classmates sporting orange shirts -- the color of leukemia awareness -- and hosting small fundraisers with handmade items blossomed into a school-wide support system very quickly. Bigger fundraisers began and school dances raising money for the two girls and their families were being held. Even the school's athletic teams are involved.

But it didn't stop there. Children at other schools, like Glynn Middle and Risley Middle schools, started showing support for Ansley and Katie through similar fundraisers, like selling bracelets bearing the girls' names and more.

Signs of encouragement and support at athletic events began popping up everywhere and the positive energy has continued to spread.

Brenda Lockin, Katie's grandmother, says the family has been overwhelmed with how much the community is doing. She is amazed at the support shown by people who don't even know her granddaughter.

So many are getting involved. They include people like Isabel Parker, a student at Frederica Academy on St. Simons Island. Instead of asking for gifts at her birthday party, Isabel asked for donations for Katie and raised over $1,000.

"That so many people care has just swelled my heart," Lockin said tearfully. "This has truly been a life-changing experience."

Teachers also find themselves on the receiving end of a tidal wave of prayers and comfort.

When Susan Cox, a sophomore Honors English and World Literature teacher at Brunswick High School, was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2012, she wasn't sure how her life would change at school.

Little did she know she would have the strength of the students and staff, even when she barely had enough strength to fight the disease herself after chemotheraphy treatments.

"The BHS students and staff were so amazing during my battle with breast cancer," she said. "Even with insurance, the cost of medical care, transportation to the Mayo Clinic and medicine still had to be paid for. The football team, the Student Council Homecoming King candidates, and the Pint Pirate class all collected funds and donated them to help defray my medical costs."

It wasn't the only support she received.

"My colleagues helped with my classes and work load when the chemo fatigue set in," Cox said.

Cox still has loads of pink breast cancer awareness paraphernalia from her students -- hats, scarves, jewelry -- and continues to sport it often, though she is now cancer-free.

Her husband, Jarret Cox, a teacher at Needwood Middle School, found he could also turn to his own students and fellow staff for help during his wife's battle.

"The staff and students at Needwood Middle School rallied around Mr. Cox as well," his wife said. "He had to take off at least two days a month to go with me to Jacksonville for treatment. The staff sent dinner home with him on many days. The administration of both schools was extremely understanding about the time missed.

"All in all, this county is full of supportive individuals and groups."

Through all of it, her favorite gifts were the hugs and high-fives she received. They kept her motivated during her battle, Cox says.

Beth Cain, the physical education teacher at Satilla Marsh Elementary, is another breast cancer survivor. She can vouch for the heart of the teachers and staff in the school system.

She was told she had cancer on the last day of the school year.

"Summer was all about chemo," Cain said. "When I came back to school, I had to explain to the kids what would be going on with me because every now and then I had to miss a couple days in a row. And the kids were so amazing. The support from everyone was just amazing."

From supportive posters around the school to little trinkets from her students, Cain felt her school was always there for her in her time of need. The school would even host special days to honor her. There was even a Pink Do-rag and Hat Day in honor of her love for riding motorcycles.

"The kids, even though they didn't understand the depth of the illness, knew I was sick and they were going to make me better. Between them and the staff, I couldn't have done it without them," she said.

-- Reporter Sarah Lundgren writes about education and other local topics. Contact her at [email protected], on Facebook or at 265-8320, ext. 322.

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