Brown County Relay for Life organizers along with school officials, members of the drum line and her father, surprised freshman Abby Hubbard when they came into her classroom at Brownwood High School on Wednesday and announced they are naming her the 2012 Relay’s Honorary Youth Survivor.
Each year the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life organizers in Brown County select honorary cancer survivors. 2012 relay survivor co-chair Marian Deans explained that this is done to “empower people to know that they can make a difference and can fight back.”
Abby is the daughter of Dr. Jason Hubbard & wife Shawntay of Brownwood and Amy Reasons of San Antonio.
According to her father, Dr. Hubbard, the family began their journey fighting cancer in July of 2009 when a large tumor, the size of a volleyball, was found in Abby’s abdomen. Her diagnosis was Dysgerminoma, a rare low grade cancer. She was in stage 1C when diagnosed and the cancer had not metastasized into other areas of her body, he said. She underwent surgery to remove the tumor and had four rounds chemotherapy, and now is cancer free but undergoes check up CT scans every 6 months.
According to her teachers and father, Abby has been positive through the whole experience.
“Abby is a very positive person, see that smile,” stated Assistant Principle Andy Gill. “She smiled all the time, even during the time she was going through treatment.”
Dr. Hubbard explained the day he found the tumor after Abby had experienced some cramping type pains in her stomach for several months. He said he had felt her stomach and realized something was wrong.
“I felt the tumor and knew it was something that wasn’t supposed to be there. My first thought was that it could be just a benign tumor but the thought of metastasis was a worry,” said Dr. Hubbard. “It turned out to be a low grade cancer.”
In fact, her doctor, Dr. Quesada (Pediatric Oncologist at Methodist Children’s Hospital in San Antonio) said that if you get a tumor this was a good one to have with a high survival rate, said Hubbard. Abby and her family are soon to be part of a research study of the University of Minnesota. Hopefully by studying her tumor (which has been preserved for this reason) and her parents’ DNA, a less caustic treatment will be found, said Dr. Hubbard.
Abby explained that when she was diagnosed, she had long hair, to the middle of her back and during treatments she lost all of it.
“The hardest part of being sick was being cut off from everyone else,” said Abby. “I didn’t get to see friends for a long time. I had to be home schooled and could only be at home or the hospital.”
Abby’s sisters at the time were 5 and 8-years-old. They understood that Abby was very sick and had to go to the hospital to get well, according to their father.
“It was a very bad year for us,” said Dr. Hubbard who explained that not only was the family helping Abby to fight cancer, but that he and his wife at that time had been going through a divorce. “Things are immensely better now, God has richly blessed us.” Since then, not only is Abby well, but Dr. Hubbard has remarried and she now how step siblings and a new brother.
Abby has also been blessed with travel which has been made possible by two nonprofit groups that support children who have battled cancer.
In February of 2010, the Sunshine Kids provided a trip to New Orleans for her. She was able to participate in parades during Mardi Gras, meet celebrities Kate Hudson and Kathy Bates, and even be in the victory parade for the New Orleans Saints after they won their first Super Bowl that year.
This year, during Spring Break, the Hubbard family was treated to a trip to Paris through the Make a Wish Foundation. One of Abby’s counselors from Methodist Children’s Hospital nominated her for a trip and two ladies from the organization came to her house to find out where and what she would enjoy doing on a trip.
This is not the first time that Abby has been involved with the Relay for Life. Her father explained that she had a group of friends that formed a team for the Relay, Team Abby, to support her the year she was diagnosed. Dr. Hubbard and a friend joined in and decided to run as long as they could, running 13 miles that night. He said the next year she did not have a team, but participated as an individual.
Relay for Life events across the country not only recognize survivors and those who have lost the battle to cancer, but these events raise awareness and much needed funds to help finance research, assist cancer patients with expenses while they are seeking treatment, help fund costs of cosmetic prosthesis and help patients in the recovery process and how to cope with what they are going through.
The Brown County Relay for Life will start at 6pm Friday, June 1 and last through 6am on Saturday, June 2nd at Gordon Wood Stadium in Brownwood. Organizers state that it is not too late to sign up to participate or to sponsor the event. Those interested in sponsorship may contact Margaret Carter at 325-642-1309 for more information.
Pictured above are (left to right): Relay for Life committee members Donna Thacker, Marian Deans, & Becky Smith, Abby Hubbard, Dr. Jason Hubbard, BHS Prinsipal Bill Faircloth, and Relay for Life Chairman Tammy Robinson.
BHS Principal Bill Faircloth and drummers Angel Hernandez & Jayton Cox lead the way to surprise Abby.
Classroom presentation
Abby and her father, Dr. Hubbard, with Relay for Life Survivor Co-Chair Becky Smith
Abby gives a thumbs up to the occasion.
