Dylan Kirby
Long after the white-knuckled fear of death has vanished and the visits from neighbors and church members armed with covered dish dinners have stopped, the fear and the pain linger.
Just ask Donna Kirby.
Years after doctors determined her son, Dylan, was free of the cancer that struck him when he was 2 ½years old, the fight continues for Donna, Dylan and their family.Indeed, Dylan, now a strapping 16-year-old ROTC cadet at Chesnee High School, remains under the care of a team of 15 physicians.
To this day, more than a decade in remission, Dylan must travel to Charleston every two months to visit specialists there. And he averages about two surgeries a year, all inan effort to correct the damage left behind by the ravages of the intense radiation treatments he received as a toddler.
"Remission is a wonderful thing,but we still have so many other issues," Donna says.
Because Dylan had a type of carcinoma that was located in his face and head, the massive radiation treatments dramatically affected the development of his facial structure. The radiation prevented any permanent teeth from growing and the entire right side of his face did not grow. As a result,Dylan is unable to open his mouth more than about half an inch and hehas had numerous surgeries aimed at fixing the bone structure andallow him to do basic things such as eat normally. In addition, hishearing was severely damaged by the treatments -- today, he is 80percent deaf in one ear and 30 percent deaf in the other.
And the pain goes beyond the visible and physical.
"The hardest thing he faces is from other kids who make fun of him because of the way he looks,"Donna said. "And because he can't play sports because a lick to the face could crush the bones, he has had a hard time finding his place, finding a group to fit in with."
Part of that has been solved by joining ROTC, a program in which Dylan is able to do "everything everyone else does," his mother said. This school year, Dylan was honored as the Distinguished Cadet Academic Scholar Award.
Meanwhile, outside of school, TheChildren's Security Blanket, a local non-profit, has helped as well.In addition to providing reimbursements for the massive travelexpenses the family continues to incur -- Donna has put nearly200,000 miles on her car in the last seven years alone. Security Blanket has provided the Kirby family with the kind ofemotional support that every family with a sick child needs.
"We have all made lifelongfriends through Security Blanket," Donna said. "The otherfamilies you meet through Security Blanket don't just become yourfriends, they become your family. This organization has broughtpeople together. We do Thanksgiving together with one of the otherfamilies.
"You know, when you're in thiskind of situation, you kind of feel like you're in the world alone.And then when you find someone in the same boat with you, you canjust always be at ease because you know they know exactly what it islike.
"Spartanburg needed the kind ofsupport that bringing this group together provided. When Dylan wasdiagnosed with cancer, there was not a soul that I could turn to. Butnow we have all of these people around us, and it is a realblessing."
The ChildrensSecurity Blanket surprises Kelsey with a brand new computer.
The Children's SecurityBlanket surprises Kelsey with a brand new computer. Kelsey has beenbattling cancer and Children's Security Blanket wanted to help makethe treatments a little easier.
Clickhere to watch the video at YourCarolina.TV
McClintonconcert will benefit local children's group
Delbert McClinton'sperformance Saturday at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium has apurpose beyond pure entertainment.
Proceeds from theconcert will benefit the Children's Security Blanket, a localorganization that provides financial and emotional support tofamilies of children with cancer or other life-threatening illnessesin Spartanburg County by assisting with lodging, food andtransportation costs incurred during treatment.
Boiling Springsresident Allison Dominick, whose 3-year-old son Payton was diagnosedwith neuroblastoma when he was 8 months old, is thankful for the helpher family has gotten from the Children's Security Blanket.
Clickhere to read the full story at GoUpstate.com
Local ShaggersDance to Help Children's Charity
SPARTANBURG, SC - MARCH8, 2011 - Downtown Spartanburg was rocking Tuesday morning as membersof the R&B Shag Club and the Upstate Shag Club met under themarquis to strut their stuff for the kids of the Children's SecurityBlanket. Several kids from the Children's Security Blanket weretreated to a few key dance moves while the tunes of Delbert wereplayed by one of the Upstate's best Shag DJs, Jeff Foster.
Clickhere to read the full story published in the Woodruff City Bulletin
Shaggers topromote benefit concert
Some of the Upstate'smost talented Shag dancers will put on their dancing shoes Tuesday,March 8 to help some of the area's bravest soldiers -- the youngpeople of the Children's Security Blanket.
The brave youngsters ofChildren's Security Blanket are battling cancer.
The community can watchlocal Shaggers perform at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium Tuesdayduring a sneak peek of the March 19 Delbert McClinton concert thatwill benefit Children's Security Blanket.
Children's SecurityBlanket is a Spartanburg-based charity that provides food, lodgingand transportation to families who have children suffering withcancer and are forced to travel long distances to seek life-savingtreatment.
Delbert McClinton, aGrammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica playerand pianist will entertain the crowd with the shag hits that made himfamous in the Upstate.
Clickhere to read the full story at GreenvilleOnline
The Stroller:No Signals
Delbert McClinton isbringing his "Return to the Roadhouse Blues" concertfeaturing his old shag hits to Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium onMarch 19, and it's going to be not only a huge party but amuch-appreciated benefit for the Children's Security Blanket, whichhelps children with cancer.
Clickhere to read the full story at GoUpstate
WYFF Video ofBelmont Breeze
Belmont Breezeto Benefit Upstate Charity
Some of the area's mosttalented horsemen will show off their skills to help an area charitythrive, Saturday.
The charity is calledThe Children's Security Blanket.
It's an organizationthat provides food, lodging and transportation to families who have achild suffering from cancer.
The equestrian ridesare a chance for those children to come out and enjoy a familyfriendly event, all while raising money to help alleviate thefinancial burden for these families.
Clickhere to read the full story at WSPA
'Children'sSecurity Blanket' Offers Comfort, Support
The Children's SecurityBlanket, a nonprofit organization that provides comfort and supportfor children dealing with cancer, has its biggest fundraiser comingup.
The children who theorganization helps out have inspirational and unforgettable stories.
Michael Neely, 19, ofSpartanburg County can't remember anything before Sept. 24, 2008.
That's when he woke upfrom a coma following brain surgery to remove a tumor. Now he says hehas near photographic memory.
"I think it'sbecause I don't remember anything prior, so it sort of has the roomfor all the new memory."
Clickhere to read the full story at WYFF
Tron Foster didn'trealize miniature horses could move as fast as larger ones until herode in a horse-drawn carriage Wednesday at Spiegel Farms inCampobello.
The 8-year-old laughedand smiled at his mother as the white miniature galloped over thehills and countryside. His younger sister sat beside him in thecarriage and listened as the driver talked about horses.
After the ride, hejumped out of the carriage and helped his little sister get down.Tron walked and moved so well, no one could tell he had lost akneecap and part of a femur bone to cancer two years ago.
He was one of a handfulof young cancer survivors visiting the farm to preview a benefit thisweekend by The Children's Security Blanket.
Clickhere to read the full story at the Spartanburg Herald Journal
Children'sSecurity Blanket helps families
The Children's SecurityBlanket hosted Spartanburg's bravest citizens for their annual Toys"R" Us Shopping Spree on Nov. 21.
Toys "R" Usopened their doors a bit early for this shopping spree for 45families with children who are fighting grave illnesses and cancer.The families had ample time to pick out those perfect gifts.
Clickhere to read the full story at the Spartanburg Herald Journal
SecurityBlanket shopping spree comforts ailing kids
Sydney Cook had a 50/50chance of survival.
The 13-year-old fromMoore underwent a successful brain stem operation more than two yearsago, but the tumor caused medical complications. Sydney can't swallowand she can't go to sleep without a ventilator to keep her alive, butshe can smile broadly. Sydney's also quite skilled at Mario Kart onthe Wii video game system.
Sydney had reason tosmile Saturday, when she and dozens more young survivors of severeillnesses received a gift card from the Children's Security Blanketand free reign at Toys "R" Us an hour before the storeopened. Sydney chose two Wii sports games.
The Children's SecurityBlanket offers year-round emotional support and financial assistanceto families of severely ill children, but the annual shopping spreeis one of the biggest highlights, organizers said.
Clickhere to read the full story from the Spartanburg Herald Journal
The Children'sSecurity Blanket surprises Kelsey with a brand new computer.
The Children's SecurityBlanket surprises Kelsey with a brand new computer. Kelsey has beenbattling cancer and Children's Security Blanket wanted to help makethe treatments a little easier.
Clickhere to watch the video at YourCarolina.TV
McClintonconcert will benefit local children's group
Delbert McClinton'sperformance Saturday at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium has apurpose beyond pure entertainment.
Proceeds from theconcert will benefit the Children's Security Blanket, a localorganization that provides financial and emotional support tofamilies of children with cancer or other life-threatening illnessesin Spartanburg County by assisting with lodging, food andtransportation costs incurred during treatment.
Boiling Springsresident Allison Dominick, whose 3-year-old son Payton was diagnosedwith neuroblastoma when he was 8 months old, is thankful for the helpher family has gotten from the Children's Security Blanket.
Clickhere to read the full story at GoUpstate.com
Local ShaggersDance to Help Children's Charity
SPARTANBURG, SC - MARCH8, 2011 - Downtown Spartanburg was rocking Tuesday morning as membersof the R&B Shag Club and the Upstate Shag Club met under themarquis to strut their stuff for the kids of the Children's SecurityBlanket. Several kids from the Children's Security Blanket weretreated to a few key dance moves while the tunes of Delbert wereplayed by one of the Upstate's best Shag DJs, Jeff Foster.
Clickhere to read the full story published in the Woodruff City Bulletin
Shaggers topromote benefit concert
Some of the Upstate'smost talented Shag dancers will put on their dancing shoes Tuesday,March 8 to help some of the area's bravest soldiers -- the youngpeople of the Children's Security Blanket.
The brave youngsters ofChildren's Security Blanket are battling cancer.
The community can watchlocal Shaggers perform at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium Tuesdayduring a sneak peek of the March 19 Delbert McClinton concert thatwill benefit Children's Security Blanket.
Children's SecurityBlanket is a Spartanburg-based charity that provides food, lodgingand transportation to families who have children suffering withcancer and are forced to travel long distances to seek life-savingtreatment.
Delbert McClinton, aGrammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica playerand pianist will entertain the crowd with the shag hits that made himfamous in the Upstate.
Clickhere to read the full story at GreenvilleOnline
The Stroller:No Signals
Delbert McClinton isbringing his "Return to the Roadhouse Blues" concertfeaturing his old shag hits to Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium onMarch 19, and it's going to be not only a huge party but amuch-appreciated benefit for the Children's Security Blanket, whichhelps children with cancer.
Clickhere to read the full story at GoUpstate
WYFF Video ofBelmont Breeze
Belmont Breezeto Benefit Upstate Charity
Some of the area's mosttalented horsemen will show off their skills to help an area charitythrive, Saturday.
The charity is calledThe Children's Security Blanket.
It's an organizationthat provides food, lodging and transportation to families who have achild suffering from cancer.
The equestrian ridesare a chance for those children to come out and enjoy a familyfriendly event, all while raising money to help alleviate thefinancial burden for these families.
Clickhere to read the full story at WSPA
Children'sSecurity Blanket' Offers Comfort, Support
The Children's SecurityBlanket, a nonprofit organization that provides comfort and supportfor children dealing with cancer, has its biggest fundraiser comingup.
The children who theorganization helps out have inspirational and unforgettable stories.
Michael Neely, 19, ofSpartanburg County can't remember anything before Sept. 24, 2008.
That's when he woke upfrom a coma following brain surgery to remove a tumor. Now he says hehas near photographic memory.
"I think it'sbecause I don't remember anything prior, so it sort of has the roomfor all the new memory."
Clickhere to read the full story at WYFF
Tron Foster didn'trealize miniature horses could move as fast as larger ones until herode in a horse-drawn carriage Wednesday at Spiegel Farms inCampobello.
The 8-year-old laughedand smiled at his mother as the white miniature galloped over thehills and countryside. His younger sister sat beside him in thecarriage and listened as the driver talked about horses.
After the ride, hejumped out of the carriage and helped his little sister get down.Tron walked and moved so well, no one could tell he had lost akneecap and part of a femur bone to cancer two years ago.
He was one of a handfulof young cancer survivors visiting the farm to preview a benefit thisweekend by The Children's Security Blanket.
Clickhere to read the full story at the Spartanburg Herald Journal
Children'sSecurity Blanket helps families
The Children's SecurityBlanket hosted Spartanburg's bravest citizens for their annual Toys"R" Us Shopping Spree on Nov. 21.
Toys "R" Usopened their doors a bit early for this shopping spree for 45families with children who are fighting grave illnesses and cancer.The families had ample time to pick out those perfect gifts.
Clickhere to read the full story at the Spartanburg Herald Journal
SecurityBlanket shopping spree comforts ailing kids
Sydney Cook had a 50/50chance of survival.
The 13-year-old fromMoore underwent a successful brain stem operation more than two yearsago, but the tumor caused medical complications. Sydney can't swallowand she can't go to sleep without a ventilator to keep her alive, butshe can smile broadly. Sydney's also quite skilled at Mario Kart onthe Wii video game system.
Sydney had reason tosmile Saturday, when she and dozens more young survivors of severeillnesses received a gift card from the Children's Security Blanketand free reign at Toys "R" Us an hour before the storeopened. Sydney chose two Wii sports games.
The Children's SecurityBlanket offers year-round emotional support and financial assistanceto families of severely ill children, but the annual shopping spreeis one of the biggest highlights, organizers said.
