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 Alex's
Athlete Of The Month
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ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Miss Hannah Thomas
Multi Sport Player for Oneonta High School
2007 Graduate
Miss Thomas will attend Troy University
Softball Basketball Volleyball
My Mother and I visited Hannah while she was in the hospital at UAB
just after her lung surgery. As we walked up, we met her Mother in
the hallway. She was teary but they were tears of joy. Hannah will return
for check ups but would not be having to have any type of treatment after the
surgery. We met both of her parents and her younger brother during our visit. It was
clear they are a very loving and close family. Hannah had a big smile when we walked in
the door and that smile never left her face. She was in great spirits for somone who
just came through surgery! As we talked, it became clear that she had so much to offer
others, in the way of mentoring. By the end of the visit we were asking her to be our August
Athlete of the Month. From the news of her illness to her surgery, for her it was all
just part of what life throws you sometimes and you just do what you have to do. It all
seemed second nature to her to have this strength of mind and she does credit being an athlete
with helping her to mentally endure all she has had to face. This was not in her plan book,
for her Senior year of school but being an athlete she knows all about having
to change the plan in mid game. You have to be ready for anything and nobody could know that better than someone like Hannah who plays not just one but three different sports.
God Bless you, Hannah
and
KEEP THE FAITH!
~Alex~
THE INTERVIEW
Hannah Thomas
by Website Sports Writer, Alex Avram
(Scroll down to read a short BIO on Miss Avram)
1. How did you discover you were sick, what were your symptoms and what was
the exact diagnosis?
" Well, back in 2006 I had pneumonia and was hospitalized for a week. Then 11 months later, in January of 2007 I was hospitalized with pneumonia again. After I got over that I made a visit to my pulmonologist for a check up and she did CT scans and discovered the abnormality in my left lung. I then went to a surgeon and had a few procedures and tests done and they diagnosed me with a Typical Carcinoid Tumor in early June of this year. It is a rare tumor to be found in the lungs but even more rare in children. "
2. What were your initial thoughts? " I honestly don't remember thinking for a few days. I think I was kind of numb at first because no one wants to hear the words "You have Cancer." But I do remember being very scared of what I would have to endure."
3. I know you are a multi sport player. Tell us what sports you play? " I play volleyball, basketball, and softball. I also lifeguard during the summer."
4. How did it the diagnosis affect you emotionally, as well as, with your
sports?
"Emotionally I was affected as anyone would be I guess but for the most part I kept the fear and sadness to myself and tried to be strong for my parents because I knew if I got depressed they would have a much harder time dealing with everything. As far as sports, my cancer didn't really mess anything up because the doctors let me finish my senior seasons before we did surgery. "
5. Do you feel one particular sport helped you more than the others and why?
"Even though softball is my favorite sport I think playing basketball through the years actually helped me the most. Because of all of the running involved I think I gained the most dicipline and endurance from that. This helped me tremendously when it came time for my recovery exercises after surgery. "
6. How do you think being an athlete helped you through this difficult time,
in your life?
" I think being an athlete of any kind just makes you a strong person. I feel that all of my years in sports really trained me to be mentally and physically tough. It also helped me recover faster because i was in pretty good shape. "
7. How do your teammates and coaches help support you? Do you feel they
understand your fight, in a different way than your family?
" Some of them have been a great support to me and my famiy. Always offering to do anything they could to help. But I really feel that my family and a few close friends understand my struggle more than anyone because they were the closest to the situation. "
8. You seem very close to your family. What special things have they done
to be of support to you?
"My family has been AWESOME through my difficult times. My family is awesome anyway but they really came through and were there for me. And it wasn't just my family, my boyfriend and a few other close friends really supported me a lot as well. Not only that, they all prayed for me which I believe is what really got me through it. "
9. Will you be playing any sports during college either for college or club
teams?
" I plan to play some intermural softball and eventually mabe volleyball too but i haven't really made up my mind yet. "
10. What advise do you have for other athletes who may be sharing your same
experience? " For other athletes or anyone in the same situation I would just say be strong and trust in God to get you through. But also don't be afraid to lean on your friends and family for support."
11. It was clear to me during our visit that you are a positive person. Do
you think being an athlete has helped teach you be positive and if so, how? " I do believe being an athelte has helped to make me a more positive person because during a game, no matter what the score you have to stay positive and continue to play your hardest and play to win. So it has been embedded in my brain to keep trying even if the odds are against you."
12. Will you have to have any other treatments or go back for check ups? "The cure for my cancer was surgery so I am very blessed not to have to endure any chemo or other treatments. I will have to go in for a check up every 6 months for a few years and then every 5 years after that."
13. Do you have any religious convictions and if so, how has that helped
you through everything?
" Without God there is no way I could have made it through this. I give Him all the praise and glory for my healing."
14. Is there anything else you would like for everyone to know? Any other
advise or comments?
" My only advise to anyone battleing any type of cancer would be to be strong in the Lord and trust Him to do His will. And even though its hard, the first step to begin fighting is to simply accept the fact that you have cancer and that you must fight it. Also some scripture that is helpful to me: Psalm 62:2, 7-8. "
