The Wolfe family of Bloomington (L to R: Gage, Bryan, Jamie and Cael). (Photo by Eric Stock/WJBC)
By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Cancer is an unspeakable topic for many, especially for parents who can’t imagine their child being afflicted with the disease.
Shawna Weber of Bloomington was in that boat.
“I always feel bad when I say this, but I know there’s people who do this,” Weber said. “I was the mom that would throw away those address labels because if I didn’t see it, it wasn’t real. I didn’t want to know about St. Jude. It was a conscious choice.”
That is until her daughter Lucy was diagnosed with leukemia one week after her third birthday. Lucy, now 7, and more than a year past her last cancer treatment is doing well.
Shawna said she and her husband were planning to file for bankruptcy until they realized St. Jude covers all expenses.
Lucy’s classmate at Washington Elementary in Bloomington, Cael Wolfe was diagnosed with leukemia last July. His mother, Jamie, said she was taken aback by the comforting environment she discovered when the family first visited St. Jude.
“It didn’t look like a hospital to me, that’s what I was expecting,” Wolfe said. “We were beyond scared and it eased our fears once we walked in those doors.”
Cale’s leukemia is in remission and he’s expected to face ongoing treatment for the next two years.
Radio Bloomington is raising money through the St. Jude Radiothon. You can become a Partner in Hope by calling 1-800-374-4995 or by clicking here.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with the Weber and Wolfe families on WJBC.com.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].