Relay for Life.
It’s something many people in many communities get involved with to benefit the American Cancer Society. Since there are so many people who either have cancer themselves or know someone who has had cancer, it touches a lot of people. It’s unfortunate that it affects so many people, but the fact that there are people out there who do what they can to support a cure, I think that sends a great message.

I recently learned this year there are 35 teams in Jackson County participating in the Relay, which is May 16-17 at Seymour High School’s Bulleit Stadium. Last year, there were about 25, so it has apparently grown over time. Forming of teams began earlier this year, and that’s when teams organized and began thinking of ideas for fundraisers. There are many options for fundraisers, and many of them have done them up to the last minute.

On May 3, Trey’s Team set up lemonade stands at George’s of Seymour, Jay C Food Store and Wal-Mart Supercenter. It was their second fundraiser of the year, and I later learned from Kathy Hohenstreiter that the stands collected $2,000, so that was a success for them and for the American Cancer Society.

Kathy has been a very strong individual throughout the past few years. She organized a Relay team not long after she learned of her son’s (Trey) diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Since the diagnosis on Jan 6. 2006, Trey has undergone 23 spinal taps, 66 bone marrow aspirations, 12-13 blood transfusions, five platelet transfusions and 11 sets of chemo shots in his leg.

Through all of that, somehow, Trey has remained very strong. Kathy said he’s been very understanding of the things he needs to do to get better. His first year of diagnosis, Kathy said, was the most stressful. There were weekly trips to Riley Hospital for Children then. But now, he gets oral chemo daily, Riley once a month for chemo in his chest port and quarterly for spinal taps. He also has to take steroids five days a month. That cycle will continue for the next 11-12 months.
Kathy said it could have been much worse. Trey could have had more of the side effects. The biggest side effect he’s had, she said, is less energy due to the chemo.

“But I’ve never heard him complain,” she said. “He’s never questioned why. We go to Riley and he understands that’s part of it. That’s his life, and he doesn’t know any different.”

Can you imagine? He’s only 6 years old, and he’s undergone this for three and a half years.
But when I was talking to him that day, I asked Trey how many laps he planned on walking or running this year. “One hundred” he initially said. Then he quickly changed his answer to “two,” before settling with “seven” since he’ll be that age on Oct. 25.

Kathy has used a very good approach to dealing with all of this: she relies on family, friends and faith. What a wonderful combination. You’d think with all three of those things, anything would be possible. Really, it’s gone well for Kathy, with those three things on her side. I was impressed when Kathy asked Trey who has helped them get through everything. He responded, “Jesus.”

Kathy, Trey, family, friends and supporters are already looking to the future. May 1, 2009, will be a day all of them are ready for: that’s the day Trey is scheduled to end chemo.
What a relief that will be for Trey and everyone else in support of him. For a year after that, Kathy said, he will visit Riley monthly, then quarterly the second year, every six months the third year and then yearly after that. He will do that until he’s 18.
Also, Kathy is already thinking about an “All-Better Party” for June 2009 to “pay back for the prayers, for the support and for everything.”

But for now, they have this weekend to look forward to with the Relay. Tonight is the Survivor’s Walk. But to Kathy, seeing Trey among those in the Survivor’s Walk, it’s emotional. She would hope he wouldn’t have had to be there in the first place, but then again, she’s seeing him get stronger and battling cancer. So this is more of a celebration of life than anything else, I guess.

So when everyone sees Trey’s Team, clad in their orange shirts with “Trey’s Team” on the front and “Pray for Trey” on the back, people will know who they are. They have been in the Relay for the third year, and they will keep putting forth their efforts for Trey.

To all of the people out there who support Relay for Life, good for you. You are doing a great thing to support a great cause. Hopefully, someday, there will be a time when people can see the end of cancer. If that ever happens, I’m sure Trey’s Team will still wear their orange shirts with pride.

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