Pep rallies are usually held in support of sports teams well as they leave for various competitions. Almost every high schooler in our nation has been to one. The marching band is there to play the fight song, the cheerleaders are there to get the crowd going, and the school administrators are there asking the student body to “come out and support” the teams on their way to the playoffs.
But this pep rally in Carlisle, Arkansas was held to celebrate a battle already won. Little 5-year-old Annabelle Hearn took her last dose of chemo last Thursday. This meant she had won her battle against Leukemia.
What is Leukemia?
Leukemia is cancer in the blood-forming tissues of the body. These tissues include the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. There are many types of leukemia and is more commonly found in children. Leukemia usually involves white blood cells or infection fighters. These cells usually divide in a normal and orderly way whenever your body has to fight off foreign invaders. When someone has leukemia, the bone marrow produces an unusually large amount of white blood cells that do not function properly.
Nobody knows what causes leukemia, but it is known that those with a family history of the disease will likely get it as well. Some of the early signs of Leukemia include:
- Persistent fatigue
- Frequent/severe infection
- Rapid, unexplained weight loss
- Easy bleeding/bruising
- Bone pain
These systems can mean leukemia. Ask your doctor if you see three or more of these symptoms in yourself or your child.
The pep rally
Annabelle’s pre-school teacher, Tammy Perkins says that her student had taught her more about perseverance and positivity than she could ever teach in one school year. Tammy was with Annabelle for her entire two-year-long battle with cancer and wanted to celebrate the victory.
On the Friday following her final chemo treatment, Annabelle and her parents arrived at her pre-school to a big surprise. The entire high school pep-rally team was there in support of her big victory!
The cheerleaders had created cheers specific to Annabelle’s fight “Annabelle’s cancer just got beat!” The marching band played some upbeat tunes as the family walked in, and the football players cheered right alongside everyone else to celebrate Annabelle.
Annabelle was speechless, and her mother was getting choked up talking about how kind this community is. She says that this act of kindness adds to the long list of reasons she’s grateful to the community.
“It’s unreal. These people have helped us through the hardest thing and I’m just grateful and I feel loved and I feel overwhelmed in the best of ways.”
This is without a doubt, the best pep rally the city of Carlisle will ever pull off.
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