I am riding in honor and memory of my ‘forever 16’ year old daughter, Delaney, and all children fighting cancer. Delaney soared on December 9, 2011. During her 3 1/2 year battle, the doctors, nurses, and staff at Children’s became part of our family. They loved and supported Delaney and did everything possible to cure her. Even in the final months, they looked to Delaney for direction and when she said fight, they never stopped. And we never lost hope.
Delaney Goodner, was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare childhood cancer, on June 10, 2008 when she was 13 years old. She went into Children’s Hospital on Friday, June 6, and they told us she had cancer but the type and plan wasn’t defined until Tuesday. I knew so little. Though I’d known adults with cancer, I never understood their treatment plans. Imagine my shock on Tuesday when they explained a 54 week treatment plan! But I get ahead of myself. Delaney completed her 54 week treatment in July and had scans in early August that were supposed to be clean. They were not. After surgery and more chemo, Delaney finally had clean scans in December, 2009. She went on a maintenance trial to keep the cancer away. Though we’re told the trial proved effective for many, unfortunately it didn’t for Delaney and she had her first recurrence over Memorial Day, 2010. More surgery, more chemo, more side effects. After 2 sets of clean, 3-month scans, we decided to stop treatment in early Nov, 2010. She was good until she felt a lump in Feb, 2011. More surgery, more chemo. Clean scans in May, 2011, but continued chemo through the summer. Baseline scans in Aug prior to starting radiation showed that the cancer had spread throughout her body over the summer. No more surgery to remove the cancer. More trials, more chemo, many prayers, strong faith, family, and friends. Delaney was 16 1/2 years old when she soared to Heaven on December 9, 2011. While here on Earth, before cancer, Delaney loved to sing and hanging out with family and friends. She enjoyed soccer and she was an artist. During cancer she still enjoyed singing when her voice was strong enough. She always loved her family and friends and her animals. Her artistic skills grew and brought her much enjoyment.
This year Delaney’s friends are graduating college….it is sometimes unbelievable how time keeps moving on! I fundraise and ride in Courage Classic so other children will have the opportunity to grow up and celebrate milestones.
Our team is “Kick Cancer’s Ass”. I hope the name doesn’t offend you as there is a special story behind the name.
In Fall of 2008, when Delaney was in the early stages of her treatment I ran across the Carepage of a young man in Wyoming who was being treated at Children’s. He didn’t have Rhabdo (Delaney’s cancer) but at first they thought he did. I could tell from his postings that he was a wonderful young man and from a wonderful family. During one of Delaney’s stays in the hospital we ended up next door to this young man and I was fortunate to meet his awesome, strong mother. Before he passed he told his mom to have Delaney, Kick Cancer’s Butt. When I mentioned it to my son and friend, they recommended a slight change.
-Amy Goodner
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