Eighth-grader loses battle with brain cancer

Even as her brain tumor continued to grow, 14-year-old Eunice Chang never stopped worrying about everyone else's well-being.

Chang, an eighth-grader at Indian Prairie Unit District 204's Granger Middle School in Aurora, died Saturday after a 14-month battle with brain cancer.

"The doctor said things were going really well in the beginning, but her condition went downhill really fast in the last few weeks," her sister, Katharine Chang, 19, said Monday. "But even as we could see she was deteriorating, she told us she felt fine and everything was OK because she didn't want to be a burden."

Chang said her younger sister was known for an "annoying prank" on occasion, but was an "awesome" little sister despite the 5-year age difference.

"If she were my age, I'm pretty sure she would be the best best-friend ever," Chang said. "Her friends always had a blast hanging out with her and I'm pretty sure their parents enjoyed her, too."

Eunice was also a favorite among her classmates and teachers at Granger. Principal Mary Kelly said Eunice's courage was an inspiration to her classmates.

"This wonderful little girl, when she first got sick in the middle of last year, her biggest concern was getting her homework done on time," Kelly said. "There was a time when Eunice was getting daily chemotherapy treatments and she still only cared about not missing school or her work."

Chang agreed.

"I'm pretty sure I would have laid down, said I was sick, and taken care of school work later," she said. "I was always amazed at her focus on school and her grades, despite her condition."

Eunice's classmates followed her condition, eager to get her back quickly when her condition worsened.

In November, Kelly said, classmates and staff knew Eunice's treatments were becoming a financial burden on the family, so on Nov. 25, they held a karaoke-a-thon to raise donations. At the end of the evening, Eunice's friends were able to give her mother $17,000 to help fund the treatments.

"We all really pulled together to help the family through a time," Kelly said. "And I know it meant a lot to Eunice."

Kelly said Eunice's classmates were warned a few weeks ago that her condition "was worsening and the fight was getting harder."

"I think we did a really nice job preparing the children for this day," Kelly said. "So of course everyone was very, very sad but no one was shocked."

A visitation and funeral service was held Monday evening in Naperville. Eunice's body will be flown to Texas on Wednesday and the family will have a formal service and burial for her there on Thursday.