Date: Fri 08-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Courtney-Knees-cancer-Tommy

Full Text:

One Answer To Cancer Is In The Cards

With cut:

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Let an imaginative youth loose with colored markers and you have a fine medium

for spreading holiday cheer. But more than good tidings is illustrated by

13-year-old Courtney Knees in the Christmas card she designed this year for

the Tommy Fund, a non-profit organization that suports patient care, research,

and teaching relating to childhood cancer at Yale-New Haven Children's

Hospital.

"It's been a fun thing to do," said Courtney, who is nearing the end of two

and a half years of treatment for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia and doing very

well. "I love to draw and be creative. And it's neat that it will help raise

money for the Tommy Fund."

Courtney, an eighth grader at Newtowm Middle School, expresses creativity in

many ways. She plays the piano and clarinet, takes jazz and tap dance lessons,

and hopes to begin drawing classes. But she so enjoyed being one of the young

artists to contribute a drawing for the Tommy Fund card collection, that she

has already designed four more to submit next year. The Holiday Card Program

is one of the organization's major fund raisers.

The Tommy Fund has purchased TVs, VCRs, games, toys, and other equipment to

help children pass the time at the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center. It has

funded a kitchen near the chemo room where parents and children can find

beverages and snacks. Support groups are underwritten by the fund, along with

fellowships for doctors and researchers who are helping children win the fight

against cancer.

It was while at the clinic that Courtney was inspired to design her holiday

card. "The kids [who were patients there] gave me most of the ideas - the

candy canes, stars, and ornaments. They told me what to do and I drew it,"

said the young artist. She added some holly to the picture, and wrote the

sentiment for the greeting card. Of all the cards submitted by the children

treated at the hospital, only five designs are chosen to be printed and sold

each year.

Courtney and her family have actively participated in other fund raising

events for the Tommy Fund, including foot races. And while there, the Knees

make a point of encouraging those children attending who are not as far along

as Courtney in their treatment.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is a malignant disorder in which the body produces

immature white blood cells that crowd-ouit the healthy cells. The disease

causes internal bleeding, organ failure, and an impaired immune system which

is unable to fight infection.

"But it is the `best' form you can get because it's easily treatable," said

Courtney. "The chemotherapy is not as intense, and there is no bone marrow

transplant."

Before her illness, Courtney was extremely shy. But her struggle to overcome

the disease resulted in opening up and participating in more things. "it kind

of brought out the best in me," she said.

Although she still dislikes being the center of attention, she talked with

seventh graders last year and this year when they were studying the immune

system. "They were so interested [in what I had to say]," she said.

"Every day I see her there for other people," said her mom, Joanne Knees. "She

wants to be a doctor - one day it's a cardiologist, the next an

epidemiologist."

Friends, teachers, and community members have been there for her and her

family, said Courtney. A pancake breakfast was held to raise funds to help pay

for medical expenses relating to her leukemia treatment. But perhaps the best

on-going gift people gave to the teenager was not treating her differently

because of her disease.

A postive nature has carried her through the years of painful treatment. On

December 27 she will have her last spinal tap; on January 17 her treatment

will end. Then the family will have a big party.

"We'll celebrate and be happy," said Courtney.

The Tommy Fund card designs for 1995 include Courtney Knees' candy canes, a

snowman, a wreath, assorted Chanukah, and kite. Each design is available in

packs of 12 (including envelopes) for $8; the holiday assortment package of 24

designs is $10. For more information or to place an order, call the Tommy Fund

at 1-800-245-9643.