Wellness- Zach Haley

A backyard basketball game Aug. 15 with a friend became something much more for Zach Haley.

“He said, ‘Mom, I hurt my shoulder. We need to go to UrgentCare,’ ” Tabatha Haley of Rockfield said of her 16-year-old son. “That’s when our journey began.”

The doctor looked at Zach and sent him to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for a biopsy. On Aug. 17, he and his family found out that he has Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer. He has started what will be 42 weeks of chemotherapy and will need surgery to remove the tumor from his arm.

“For a child that’s never sick …,” Tabatha Haley said, her voice trailing off. “I just thank God that something happened that let us find out what it was.”

When his schoolmates at Warren Central High School, where Zach is a junior, found out about his illness, they rallied to help him. The school set up a table for “Penny Wars,” where students could make monetary donations to help Zach’s family with medical and traveling expenses they will incur during his treatments in Nashville. The school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes organized the fundraiser and encouraged everyone to participate, according to Melanie Morrison, who is an FCA adviser.

“The majority of the school’s population has. It’s amazing to see,” she said. “It went on for four weeks.”

The fundraiser collected $4,000. The grade levels competed to see which could raise the most money, and the freshmen were announced Friday as the winners. The freshmen will get pizza and drinks.

Other Warren Central organizations have been helping by selling “Zach Attack” bracelets and T-shirts. Teachers and staff members have donated money. All of it will be put into the Zach Haley Benefit Fund account that has been set up at American Bank and Trust. The community can make donations at any branch.

“I’ve been really amazed at our students. I see kids bringing in bags of change,” FCA adviser Todd Steward said. “I know they need it, but they’re willing to help out on this. There are going to be other fundraisers. We’re not going to stop.”

Steward, who is the freshmen’s student assistant coordinator at Warren Central, got to know Zach when he became a student there. “He’s a great kid. He’s quiet, has a great personality and smart,” he said. “He’s well-liked by his peers and teachers. He’s a very considerate, generous person.”

Zach receives treatment every other week and has to stay at Vanderbilt. One week it’s a two-day stay, and the next time is a five-day stay. Earlier this week, Zach had his first five-day round of chemotherapy. At one session, he ended up having to revisit the hospital and had to be admitted for three more days.

“We’ve been at the hospital a lot lately,” Tabatha Haley said. “He doesn’t like that.”

For seven to 10 days after treatment, Zach is very susceptible to germs and must wear a mask when he goes out. He also has to have blood drawn twice a week to make sure he doesn’t need transfusions to get him ready for his chemotherapy sessions. It is unlikely that he will be able to return to school this year, so he is getting Homebound Instruction, his mother said. He is an Advanced Placement class student.

“He’s pretty down about not getting face-to-face connection,” she said. “School is pretty important to him.”

Zach also misses participating in the school’s Future Farmers of America club, of which he is a sentinel, his mother said.

“It’s disheartening for him not to be there,” she said.

Friends have been a comfort to Zach by visiting when they can and sending him cards, notes and emails, Tabatha Haley said.

“We’re so thankful for the responses. They have all stepped up and helped us. I don’t know what I’d do if they hadn’t,” she said. “We would appreciate any and all prayers. We know that God is going to get us through this.”

Those who wish to send cards to Zach may send them to 3363 Fuqua Road, Rockfield, KY 42274.

To Help

The “Help Zach Attack Cancer” benefit dinner and silent auction will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 29 at Southside Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Checks should be made out to the Zach Haley Benefit Fund. Cost is $5 per plate, which will include soup, a sandwich, chips, dessert and a drink. There will  also be black rubber wrist bands that say “Zach Attack” for sale. For more information, call Donna Minnicks at 779-4918.