Nine Year Old Leukemia Warrior

(June 8, 2012) - There is only one thing worse than hearing the words, "You have cancer," and that is hearing that your eight year old child has cancer.  That day was May 9, 2011 for a young man from Auxier, Kentucky named Trevor Wright, this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero.  Trevor's mom, Belinda, said that Trevor's school called and said he was running a fever, so she picked him up.  But, when she took him to the doctor, he knew something was wrong when Trevor's white blood cell count was 250,000.  "He told me a story about a child who had cancer...who had Leukemia," she remembers.  "I sat there and listened to the whole story, and he said that child is okay now, and is still a patient.  Then, I said, 'What's that got to do with us?' And he said, 'I think Trevor has Leukemia.'"
     Trevor went through both chemo and radiation, and was considered cancer-free just 29 days later, which many are calling a miracle.  Trevor hasn't been back to school, but thanks to an organization called "Monkey in my Chair," his classmates can keep in contact.  "It's a huge monkey, probably as big as Trevor," says Belinda.  "It sits in his chair and holds his chair for him the whole time he's out of school.  And, it has a journal where they can write Trevor and send it to him.  And, he writes them notes back."
     We talked to Trevor, who is now nine, and asked him what makes him happy.  And, his answer was much different than most nine year olds.  "Uhhhh....mostly what makes me happy is being home now and out of that hospital!"
   Trevor is still taking chemo, but hopes to return to school this fall.  His mother says she is glad that Trevor touches people, but she says it is bittersweet.  "I'm glad he's an inspiration to people," she explained.  "But, on the other hand, I so wish he didn't have to be!"

     Congratulations, Trevor Wright, this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero!