Local News

Discussion

October 29, 2012

‘Blessed beyond blessed’

Christian Heritage students unite around guidance counselor

By Christopher Smith

When Nancy Plemons shaved her head in preparation for chemotherapy, she put googly eyes on the back of it and drew eyebrows with a marker.

Plemons said her sense of humor gets her through the difficulty of living with liposarcoma — a rare soft tissue cancer — that was discovered in her abdominal and pelvic cavity in June.

Despite the cancer, Plemons considers herself “blessed beyond blessed.”

That’s because Christian Heritage School students are standing with her in her fight against the disease.

The majority of the Christian Heritage School student body paid a dollar or more to wear hats on Thursday to raise funds for Plemons, said school officials who will use the money to buy gift cards for gas to fuel her frequent 100-mile drive to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta where she receives treatment.

“I’ve been touched and overwhelmed by the fact that students came up with this on their own,” said Plemons. “It was their initiative, not an adult saying, ‘Hey, why don’t you do something?’ They did it on their own.”

The idea started with eighth-grader Ashlen Clements, said Carol McFarland, the school’s director of outreach.

“We have mentor classes and Ashlen said she wanted to do something for Ms. Plemons,” said McFarland. “They came up with the idea of wearing hats all day and asking for a dollar, but so many people have given more than just a dollar.”

The idea came from her childhood, Ashlen said, when she remembers doing a similar event for a teacher she had in elementary school.

“When I heard Ms. Plemons had cancer I thought, ‘Why not do this for her?’” said Ashlen. “I don’t even know if she knows my group came up with the idea, but it doesn’t matter. We’re praying for her. I would just ask that everyone else to pray for her, too.”

Nothing means more than those prayers, said Plemons.

“I know a lot of people are praying for me,” she said, “but I am so proud of these students who — at a young age — are showing compassion and empathy and care for others outside of themselves. You can’t ask for more than that. They’ve showed me so much care, including the cards outside my office.”

Paper hearts with the message “I am praying for you” line the wall outside of Plemons’ office.

“I feel their compassion so much,” said Plemons. “You can’t ask for more than that.”

Plemons was going to take part in a cancer study focused on liposarcoma, but because of time concerns with her treatment she wasn’t able to. She is on her third round of chemotherapy and is waiting to hear from doctors on the next step.

Text Only
Local News

AP Video
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God' Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com