Six-year-old cancer survivor gets grand send-off

With more than 1,000 kids yelling, cheering and clapping, it could have been Michael Jordan walking the halls at Millburn Elementary School in Wadsworth.

Instead of a 6-feet, 6-inch basketball star, it was 6-year-old Aidan Stotz. The Lindenhurst first-grader enjoyed celebrity status Tuesday during a rally held in his honor.

Stotz was named an "Illinois Champion Child" for winning a nearly two-year battle against cancer. Fellow students provided a rousing send-off as Stotz headed for Disney World in Florida, and a possible meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington D.C., as part of his award.

The nonprofit fundraising group Children's Miracle Network said they chose Stotz because of the remarkable courage the little guy showed throughout his treatments at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Stotz's doctor agreed.

"He never asked why this was happening to him; he never felt sorry for himself," said Dr. Jennifer Schneiderman of Children's Memorial. "He's a terrific kid and full of life even when he was feeling bad."

Diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 4, Stotz endured aggressive chemotherapy, radiation and a triple stem cell transplant. A fist-sized tumor was removed from his stomach. By all indications, the doctors say, he is cancer free.

"Aidan is one of those kids where the glass is always half full instead of half empty," said his mom Carrie Stotz. "He's empathetic too. He'll come home from school and tell me who went home sick and wonder how they are doing."

Millburn Principal Jason Lind organized the afternoon rally for Stotz, along with a St. Baldrick's Foundation hair cutting event to raise money for childhood cancer research. The entire student body lined the halls and slapped Stotz with high-fives as he made his way out to a waiting limousine.

"He's a sweet and fun little kid," Carrie Stotz said. "He always focuses on what he can do rather than what he can't."