Mount Prospect girl's cancer fight inspires blanket-making effort
Lauren Graver, a student at Lions Park Elementary School in Mount Prospect, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare muscle-based cancer, just a month before starting second grade.
Her mom, Amy, met with her class at the beginning of the school year to explain that Lauren would be gone at times for treatment but would be in school when she could. Lauren went through one seven-week period when she received chemotherapy in the morning and radiation in the afternoon, said her teacher, Toby Black.
"The kids are great," she said of the support they have given Lauren, who has a twin sister, Emma, at Lions Park, an older sister Claire at Lincoln Middle School, and an older brother Connor at Prospect High School.
As for Lauren, "she continues to persevere and maintain a positive attitude," Black said.
She often comes directly from chemotherapy appointments to school. She can usually be spotted wearing her Blackhawks hat and a big smile, Black and her fellow teachers, Courtney Voss and Patty Kennedy, wrote on a Facebook page, Lions Park Knots of Love, they have set up to show support.
Even though she just turned 8 years old, Lauren is an inspiration to those who know her, they wrote. "And every day, her classmates, school peers and teachers show Lauren what it means to be supportive, empathetic and encouraging friends."
While she still has many months of treatment left, her cancer is responding well, they said. "She is a very caring person and always looking for a way to help people. She has told her family and teachers that she wants to be the sick kid that helps other sick kids."
In keeping with that spirit, Black came up with the idea of a Knots of Love community project to make blankets for pediatric patients at Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital in Park Ridge.
Lauren had received such a blanket when she was first admitted for treatment, and it meant a lot to her. "They thought it was the absolute best idea," Black said of the family's reaction to the idea.
The event, held at Prospect High School last week, attracted about 100 people who had heard about it through school, church, the Facebook page, or word-of-mouth. They've received 50 blankets people made before the event was even held and they're continuing to accept blankets.
"This thing just grew organically," said Dan Graver, Lauren's dad. "The teachers planned everything and it's been a great experience,"
Amy Graver thanked the volunteers.
"Wow, this is so cool. … Your support since Lauren's diagnosis has meant so much to us, and this is just amazing for us. We feel as a family we have received so much support, we are so thrilled to be here today, to pay it forward, and give someone else the support we have been so richly blessed with."