Cancer treatment takes a major toll on a patient’s mind, body and spirit. This is especially true for the young patients of Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. This spring, the Colorado Rockies have teamed up with the hospital to provide a much needed respite for kids battling cancer and rare blood disorders.
All-star shortstop and friend of Children’s Colorado, Troy Tulowitzki, will underwrite an all-expense paid trip to the Colorado Rockies spring training camp for more than 20 patients and their medical caregivers. While in Scottsdale, Ariz., the children will enjoy a spring training camp game, meet-and-greet sessions with players and coaches and even some one-on-one downtime with the players.
More than just a vacation, this trip will be the first time that many of the travelers have been away from home without their parents, fostering a sense of independence that is scarce when one battles a life-threatening disease. The teens can wear what they want, listen to their favorite music and soak in the Arizona sun. While their medical caregivers will be present when needed, the teens also will be in the company of their peers, establishing life-long friendships and support systems.
For kids like cancer survivor Josh Morkert of Sterling, the upcoming trip is a welcome escape.
“I’m really just looking forward to meeting new people,” Morkert said. “For the better part of last year I was stuck in a hospital bed or at home, so I’m just looking forward to connecting with others like me.”
In April 2013, the then 16-year old Morkert went to his local hospital complaining of knee pain. He admits to having procrastinated on seeking help. Over the course of several months, a tenderness in his knee joint evolved into severe pain and an inability to support his weight. After returning from the hospital, Morkert’s family got a call saying that they “saw something strange” on his x-ray and referred him to Children’s Colorado.
That something strange was a large tumor on his knee. Doctors at Children’s Coloradoexplained his illness and treatment plan, which would eventually lead to amputation.
Morkert underwent the Van Ness rotationplasty surgery to remove the tumor from his knee and salvage as much of the healthy bone structure as possible. His shine bone was rotated 180 degrees and reattached to his femur and the ankle joint now acts as a knee while his backwards-facing foot fits into a prosthetic and powers his motion. In addition to surgery, Morkert endured chemotherapy for eight months.
“I’m not going to lie, chemo is miserable, but I made it through it,” Morkert said.
Although Morkert missed his junior year of high school, he was determined to move forward with his education. He recently earned his GED and will start college this fall.
“I’m getting back on track,” he said.
Looking out at Colorado’s snowy landscape, Josh says the escape to Arizona sunshine is perfectly timed. “I’m just so grateful for this opportunity and I hope the Rockies can continue to extend this trip to other kids. I know I’m not the only one in need of something like this.”
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