Drawing strength from his survival

Time seemed to stop for Michelle Krol.

It was May 4, 2006.

That was when she discovered a tumor on her 10½-month-old son, Ethan.

"Your world kind of caves in," she said. "You wish it would take you instead of your baby. You try to bargain with your life instead of theirs."

Ethan, now 3, of Elburn, was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery that night.

Tonight, he will be the junior grand marshal of the cancer survivor lap that opens the Kane County Relay For Life 2008 at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva. Opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m., with the survivor lap beginning at 7:45 p.m. The relay is expected to last until around 5 a.m. Saturday

The event gives survivors a chance to see others who are either going through or have gone through the same thing they have.

Michelle Krol said it's imperative families dealing with cancer have that.

"It's such an evening of hope; for many people it's what they need," she said. "The people there are incredible. It is just such a supportive environment."

Last May, just before the relay and just before his second birthday, Ethan celebrated one year of being cancer-free. Michelle and her husband, Matt, decided then to attend the relay. During the survivor lap, Ethan held hands with his parents.

While people walked up to greet Ethan and marveled at such a small kid wearing the purple shirt that signified he survived cancer, he just loved the attention.

"He was smiling because he likes to have everybody look at him," Michelle said. "(Cancer) never slowed him down. Never stopped him from being who he is."

The Kane County Forest Preserve hosts the event, which is in its 12th year at Elfstrom Stadium.

The forest preserve's director of community affairs, Laurie Metanchuk, said cancer's reach is far.

"You'd be hard-pressed to find anybody not affected by cancer in some way," Metanchuk said.

Last year, Kane County Relay For Life raised $324,000. This year's goal is $350,000. The money goes toward the American Cancer Society.

One way they raise money is selling luminaria, paper bags filled with sand and holding a candle, at the event. The bags are labeled in memory or in honor of people who have had cancer. A 9 p.m. ceremony lights all the candles at once.

The symbolism becomes one of the most memorable portions of the relay, Metanchuk said.

"I have not heard one person who hasn't been touched when they see it," she said. "It's a real emotional thing."

Krol said the luminaria ceremony was powerful when she first witnessed it.

She said experiencing her ordeal with Ethan has taught her a lesson about the disease she never wanted to learn.

"Cancer doesn't discriminate," she said. "He couldn't walk, he couldn't talk, but he could get cancer."

Despite the situation, Michelle saw something in her child because of it.

"This little guy is a fighter," she said. "He's our little hero."