From Pat Hyde, PA State Director: I would
like to take this
opportunity to introduce you to Alex McCumiskey and her family. We met
Alex and her lovely family in the spring of 2002 and the McCumiskey
family shared with us the emotions they experienced through Alex's
illness and recovery. Alex was eight years old at the time, a very
brave and courageous child, filled with inspiration that was shared
openly with anyone she came in contact with. She left you with an inner
peace. Please read on to meet our Theme Child for 2005!
September 11, 2001 will be forever
remembered as a
"nightmare come true" for all Americans. Just eight days later our
family remembers as a "nightmare come true" in our personal lives. In
the midst of all the emotions we felt over the 9/11 attacks, our family
was devastated further by the news that our 8 year old daughter,
Alexandra, had a rare bone cancer, osteosarcoma.
Alex
had been waking up at night with terrible pain in her right knee. After
a few x-rays and tests, our doctor discovered a large tumor in alex's
right femur bone. We immediately took Alex to Strong Memorial Hospital
in Rochester, NY, where she began chemotherapy treatments, followed by
surgery, and then more chemotherapy.
On January 31, 2002, Alex underwent
a 12½ hour surgery
to completely remove her entire right femur bone. Alex's doctors
replaced her femur with an extendable titanium rod designed to be
adjusted as she grows. Alex came through the surgery with flying
colors; however, she still faced a long, steep road to recovery and
rehabilitation.
For the next six months following
surgery, Alex had to
remain completely horizontal to allow her leg to heal properly. Her
father, Patrick, and I transported Alex to the hospital for her
remaining chemotherapy treatments, as well as everywhere else she
needed to go, by lifting her with sheets
And putting her on a completely reclining wheelchair. From the
wheelchair, we transferred Alex to a mattress in the back of our van.
As cumbersome and difficult as this process was, it didn't keep Alex
from wanting to go everywhere. When her blood counts were good, we took
Alex anywhere she wanted to go.
Her favorite place to visit was a
horse farm about
fifteen minutes from our house. Alex has been in love with horses for
as long as we can remember, and the lady who owned the farm invited
Alex to come visit any time. After visiting the farm on many occasions,
Alex's father and I could see how happy and upbeat Alex was just being
near horses. We started to talk about the possibility of getting a
horse for Alex even though we did not have a place or the money for
one. You see, that's what a child having a life-threatening disease
does to you: you start to try to make all things possible for your
child.
As
we continued to make trips back and forth to Rochester, (a two hour
trip one way) to finish chemotherapy, Alex's dad came across an article
in the newspaper for a writing contest to win a horse! A lady in
Genesee, PA was sponsoring the contest, and the prize was a registered
Morgan horse. Alex wasted no time in writing an essay and submitting
it. Alex did not win the Morgan horse, but a wonderful chain of events
was put into motion from that essay contest.
It started at the small community
of Genesee, through
the local bank. Marie, a teller, had heard the story of Alex. Marie
also knew of the Personal Ponies program, and she was waiting for Don
to arrive on his day of business. I bet you can all guess the major
topic of conversation at that meeting.
You guessed it, Alex!!
Within
a few days of that fateful conversation, Pat Hyde and I had not only
spoken but had also arranged a time for Alex to come to their farm,
Grampian Galloway, to see the ponies.
I can still recall the look on Don's face, as my husband and I lifted
Alex out of the van and into her reclining wheelchair. Alex put us all
at ease with her unbelievable excitement and enthusiasm for the ponies
at Don and Pat's farm. We spent 5 hours at the Hyde's farm that day,
and Alex fell in love with not only the ponies but with Don and Pat too!
During the next few months, Alex
finished up her
chemotherapy as Don and Pat began looking for just the right pony for
her. When a pony named Phoebe and her foal ended up at their farm, they
knew this was to be for Alex. Alex's dad got busy and built a barn for
the ponies, and in November 2002, phoebe and her foal, Zoe (as Alex
named her) came to live with us.
Alex
is now 11 years old, and though the road has been rocky, she is walking
with no assistance from crutches or a cane. Alex looks great, feels
great, and is always ready to tackle whatever comes her way. We know
with certainty that Phoebe, Zoe, and Alex's tremendous faith in God,
have all contributed greatly to Alex's positive outlook and her strong
determination to get well and live well!! Don and Pat remain good
friends of our family, and we cannot thank them and the wonderful
Personal Ponies program enough for all they have done for Alex and our
family. Alex is a strong believer that there are angels among us.
Pat Hyde continues: Now that
Amanda has shared the story of Alex... I want to add some other
treasures of meeting Alex.
In
the spring of 2003 we received a call to come celebrate a birthday
party for Zoe. It was an exciting experience we will never forget…when
Alex and her family opened the front door to greet us, there was Alex
with a welcoming radiant smile. She was not letting anything slow her
down so we all walked with her (her second time learning to walk again)
to the barn named "Irish Angel Stable" with a stained glass shamrock in
the peak, made by her uncle. You knew there was unconditional love in
that barn.
Zoe's birthday party was about to
begin. Alex and her
grandma had made a birthday cake topped off with sliced apples, Zoe
went right to eating, making us all laugh. Alex then presented her
ponies with new halters. After the presentation, we all went to enjoy a
beautiful table prepared for the birthday celebration with our name
tags made by Alex, and pony napkins. The dinner was very tasty and
topped off with carrot cake. Alex and her grandma had a grand time
preparing the celebration, memories of which Don and I will cherish for
many years.
It
was in November of 2004 that Alex and her family came back to Grampian
Galloway to visit the ponies and to meet Barbara, a new member who is
also undergoing treatment for cancer, and enjoying her miniature
donkeys, Noah and Joshua. Alex was very uplifting to her, she presented
Barbara with an angel pin, the same kind she gave her mom and dad on
the day of her surgery. Barbara in turn had a teddy bear with angel
wings for Alex….we truly believe there are angels among us!
I would also like to mention that
Alex was awarded
"Patient of the Year"by the staff of her hospital in 2003. Alex truly
reaches out making a difference in her pathway of life. It is with
great pleasure we present to you… Personal Ponies Limited's Theme Child
for 2005! Bless you Alex!!
