Friday, November 30, 2007 10:03 PM CST
Young cancer victim gives shopping chance to others
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
MATTOON — Riddle Elementary School fourth grader Landon Stuckey has learned the true meaning of Christmas this year.
The young cancer patient was chosen to participate in the Mattoon Police Department’s Cops for Kids shopping trip this week. But already blessed with many gifts from relatives and groups while undergoing chemotherapy, he decided someone else could use the gifts from the police event for needy families.
“I want to get stuff for Cardinal Glennon Hospital and for the kids up there,” Landon said Friday morning.
“This was his idea,” said his mother, Maya Stuckey. “We were talking about what we could do with the presents and he said he had a better idea and he was right.”
“I think it’s outstanding you stepped up and said you had enough,” said Mattoon Police Detective Travis Easton, who helps organize the Cops For Kids event that produces a holiday meal and Christmas shopping for needy children in Mattoon.
“Are you sure you don’t need anything, Landon?’ Easton asked.
Landon shook his head and later looked over the gift list from children in the St. Louis hospital. But he will be attending the Cops For Kids event this weekend.
Landon got to know the hospitalized children after he was diagnosed in October with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, a form of cancer with a tumor growth. Earlier detection of a baseball-sized mass in his chest led to quick intervention with chemotherapy and progress toward a gradual recovery, his mother said.
“The only thing that stinks is the taping for the ports,” the 10-year-old said, before pulling back his shirt to show taping for the chemotherapy port that helps ease the pumping of medicine into his body during weekly visits to SSM Cardinal Glennon Children Medical Center in St. Louis.
“I call it his little docking station,” said Maya, whose hair is cut short to bring the family closer together — chemotherapy normally leads to hair loss for patients.
His mother’s haircut and short stature brings out the humor in Landon. He recalled how one day a doctor came into his room, looked at them and asked, ‘Can I speak to the Mom?’
“At the school I get mistaken as being a kid. He thinks it’s funny,” Maya said.
Landon’s life has been in hyperdrive in recent weeks. There have been the trips to St. Louis for treatments and charity efforts, like a recent poker run organized by Rat Pack, which includes neighbors of the Stuckeys, a family that includes his sister Ellen Kolpin, and two half-brothers.
“The Poker Run was on the 24th of this month. It was so cold, but we loved it. There were 50 riders and Landon rode with uncles,” Maya said.
With her son making great progress, Maya realizes there is still a long road ahead.
“The mass in his chest is almost gone. But he is facing two years of treatment. He still has cancer cells in his body,” she explained.
Video games and mischief with a big Nerf gun have helped Landon get through long days at Cardinal Glennon. He is also excited about a trip to a Wrestlemania event through the Make-A-Wish Program. He might also go to a St. Louis Blues hockey game this winter and hopes to meet Kurt Warner, an NFL quarterback with strong ties to Cardinal Glennon through charity donations.
“I have his jersey!” Landon said.
“The energy he has is helping me get through it. It is hard to have doubt or fear about it,” Maya said. “We’re going to have an awesome Christmas.”
Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.
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HisChild wrote on Dec 1, 2007 1:12 PM: