Family, friends go green for area cancer patient

Seas of green shirts were seen throughout several area public schools Tuesday in support of Lorelai Clubb, a 12-year-old girl diagnosed in April with acute myeloid leukemia, a form of cancer in the blood cells.

Family members and friends from Missouri and across the nation showed their support for Lorelai on social media by wearing green Tuesday. (Submitted)

Clubb was unable to begin seventh grade with her class Aug. 13 because of a scheduled bone-marrow transplant at the St. Louis Children's Hospital on Tuesday.

Barbara Kohlfeld, principal at Blanchard Elementary in Cape Girardeau, sent an email Monday encouraging faculty and staff to wear green, Lorelai's favorite color, to show their support Tuesday, Lorelai Clubb's stepmother Laura Clubb said.

Laura Clubb said the response on social media has been overwhelming, with Facebook pictures and posts showing green-clad family members and friends reaching from throughout Missouri to as far as several western states such as California and Arizona.

"It makes you feel so good that there are so many kind people out there," Laura Clubb said.

J.P. Clubb, Lorelai Clubb's father, said she is a huge fan of singer Taylor Swift and has adopted the motto "Shake It Off" in regard to her illness. He said the burst of support from the community has helped boost her feelings of positivity and hope for the future.

"I will never discount the power of positive thinking, prayers and the power of that to help someone heal and recover," J.P. Clubb said.

J.P. Clubb said the convergence of the community, along with social media, is a testament to the support the family has received outside of the green-shirt campaign and hopes it also will serve as a shoutout of gratitude to those who have lent a helping hand in past few months.

"The friendships and the community have been so helpful, I don't know where we'd be (without them). It's hard to imagine," J.P. Clubb said.

Journal entries about Lorelai's transplant and progress can be accessed at caringbridge.org/visit/lorelaiclubb for those with a CaringBridge account.