Cancer-free again, Bryant getting back to normal
Shane Bryant is cancer-free and back on the links.
We've followed the former Glenbard West golfer and basketball player since learning his travails: diagnosed with the bone cancer, osteosarcoma, after his first semester at Indiana University in 2008, Bryant had 10 inches of his right tibia replaced with an aluminum rod, had knee replacement surgery, plastic surgery and, till now, three skin grafts.
Bryant is back at Indiana. He bicycles, takes the bus, drives or uses a cane to get around the Bloomington campus. No cancer was found in his last quarterly checkup in August.
"I'm happy and my body's feeling good," said Bryant, who wears a brace to support a weak foot as a result of nerve damage. He still takes antibiotics to protect the leg from infection.
"We're going to give Indiana a try here, and hopefully it works out," Bryant said. "It was time to get on with my life and leave mom and dad after living at home for a year and a half. They didn't like it, but it was time."
There is always that bittersweet period when children leave the nest (hopefully?) for the last time. But Ursula and Mike Bryant, who also have a daughter, Gretchen, in her second year of a medical residency, know this is right.
"He's just getting back to a normal, quote-unquote, life with kids his age, and doing what he's supposed to be doing," Ursula Bryant said.
A Pi Kappa Phi who lives in the house's first-floor suite generously offered him by the fraternity's president, Shane Bryant entered what essentially is his sophomore year with 31 credit hours, most from College of DuPage correspondence courses. He's taking 15 hours this semester and trying to decide on economics or political science, or both, as his major.
Once a 2-handicap golfer, the 21-year-old returned to Glen Oak Country Club around late-May and averaged around 80 with a low of 76. In August he elevated his game, in a manner of speaking.
Due to the altruism of family friend Mike Cullen, who led a drive that raised $14,200 for the Jimmy V Foundation, Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic tournament director Frank McCann invited Bryant to participate in the tournament and attend the accompanying festivities in Raleigh, N.C.
With Mike Cullen's son Brian as his caddie and joining his parents at tropical-themed and black-tie parties, Bryant golfed with actor Dave Annable ("Brothers and Sisters") and rubbed shoulders with the likes of wrestler Rick Flair, members of the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team, and ESPN broadcasters Stuart Scott and Kenny Mayne.
"They made him feel really special," Ursula Bryant said.
"It was exciting, it was fun," Shane said. "There were a lot of celebrities there, but more so it was just the (Foundation) people, how dedicated they were to this cause. They were like a family."
Due to chemotherapy treatments before and after his surgery, the 6-foot-3 Bryant's weight fell to 138 pounds. He's up to 145 right now, learning lessons many folks still find hard to grasp.
"If I really wanted to gain weight I could, but for me it's kind of a job," he said. "I'd probably have to eat about six times a day, but that's just not something I'm into. I'm eating a lot healthier, and healthy foods don't have a lot of calories."
In the runningYork's boys opened the first week of the Illinois Cross Country Coaches Poll at No. 1 when the coaches released the report on Sept. 9. Rounding out the top five were Oak Park, Palatine, Neuqua Valley and, in a fifth-place tie, O'Fallon and New Trier.Naperville North opened in the No. 12 slot with St. Charles North at No. 15. Glenbard West was among the "best of the rest."In girls rankings Palatine debuted at No. 1. Schaumburg, Downers Grove North, Glenbard West, York, Naperville North and Wheaton Warrenville South comprised Nos. 2-7. The top 15 also included Geneva at No. 10 and Naperville Central at No. 13. Bartlett, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central and St. Charles East were in the "best of" category.On top of that, Mark McCabe - Hinsdale Central girls coach and one of the coaches who participates in the poll - reviewed the last decade's state meet performances to see how teams compared. The top teams over the past 10 years are no surprise: York (six titles since 2000) among the boys, Naperville North (three titles) among the girls.The overall boys Top 10: York, Naperville North, Neuqua Valley, Palatine, Glenbard South, Lyons Twp., Waubonsie Valley, Prospect and St. Charles North.The overall girls Top 10: Naperville North, Palatine, Hinsdale Central, Sandburg, York, Lyons, Lockport, Lake Park, Geneva and Wheaton North.Mail it inThe Oct. 3 deadline approaches for student-athletes in the Class of 2011 to submit their applications for the 17th annual Wendy's High School Heisman. The award honors athleticism, classroom excellence and community service.Over the past 16 years more than 250,000 high school seniors have represented their schools throughout the process, which culminates in the awarding of one male and one female athlete selected in New York City at the time of the collegiate Heisman Award announcement.Last year's Illinois state finalists included Immaculate Conception's Will Cronin, Hinsdale Central's Toni Kokenis and Downers Grove South's Kyle Freischlag.For information and to apply, students can visit WendysHeisman.com, call (800) 205-6367 or contact their high school principal, guidance counselor or athletic director. The first 41,100 applicants will receiver a Wendy's gift card randomly valued between $5 and $50.