Poplar Bluff students plan scavenger hunt for cancer survivor

A brain tumor survivor, who received a trip to Disney World from the Make-A-Wish Foundation and loves to read the "39 Clues" books, went on a recent scavenger hunt arranged by National Honor Society members at Poplar Bluff High School.

Dustin Cook of Poplar Bluff was 12 when a brain tumor was detected on May 19, 2009.

"He was diagnosed with anaplastic ependymoma --a cancerous type of brain tumor," said Jennifer Hays, Dustin's mother.

Two days later, neurosurgeons removed the tumor at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn. Following a series of outpatient radiation treatments at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Dustin returned to Poplar Bluff Junior High School in August 2009 and is doing well with his studies.

"He came through with a full recovery," Hays said.

Mike Cook thanked God for healing his son who "is strong in his faith."

"Dustin is a living miracle. He is proof miracles still happen," Cook said.

The boy's child life specialist at St. Jude Hospital noticed how much he enjoyed reading the "39 Clues" books and started reading them to other patients. Dustin has collected all of the "39 Clues" books and cards over the past two years.

Rachel Kennicott of Poplar Bluff, the volunteer Make-A-Wish Foundation lead granter, who worked with Dustin's family to fulfill the boy's wishes, decided he would enjoy deciphering local clues.

"He told us about his favorite book series so we contacted the National Honor Society about having a scavenger hunt," Kennicott said.

Fifty members were involved in the project, con- tacting local businesses and facilities for permission to hide the clues and then writing the clues. Nineteen of the NHS members gave Dustin the first clue when he and his family arrived at The Claudia Foundation House at 626 Cynthia St. on a recent Saturday morning.

Dustin read the first clue: Here is where it all begins. If you follow correctly, you will reach the end. Don't get a ticket when on your way here, but if you do, these men will help you dear. Across the street from where red and blue lights glow, to the place of a weathered book you will go. On the pedestal to which knowledge flows. Look for the book to which you should go. Find a resource that forecast the year. You will find your next clue in here.

Tom Crutchfield provided the limo as Dustin and his family traveled in style to seven sites where the students had hidden clues. The students shared rides in cars and enjoyed watching Dustin find the clues.

Dustin decoded each clue and directed Crutchfield to drive him to the Poplar Bluff Public Library, All Star Music Store, Whitworth's Gift Chest Jewelers, New Leaf Florist, Black River Coliseum, Kids Corral, Sun-Kissed Tanning Salon and Bacon Park where everyone enjoyed ice cream cake from Marble Slab Creamery.

"The scavenger hunt was really fun," Dustin said. "The students did lots of work. I really enjoyed it."

Dustin was very surprised when his friend, Buddy Fields, who had moved to St. Louis, showed up at Bacon Park. He and his family were en route to Paragould, Ark., when they learned about the scavenger hunt from art teacher Deana Ward, who saw Dustin at Whitworth's Jewelers.

Sandi Price, Lucy Wheeler, both high school counselors and honor society advisers, and Kennicott also went on the scavenger hunt.

"I'm really proud of the students. They wanted to do this kind of community service," said Price, who was initially contacted by Melanie Sutton, a Make-A-Wish Foundation representative from Springfield. The students had the hunt planned before learning the name of the 13-year-old boy. Beth Crunk, an intern at the high school, assisted the students with wording the clues.

"Dustin is very bright. He picked up on the clues immediately," Price said.

Wheeler thought the hunt "was fantastic."

"The students felt a great deal of satisfaction in what they were able to do for Dustin," Wheeler said.

Kennicott has been assisting Sutton for two years, but this was the first time she was the lead granter and the first time a Poplar Bluff child was involved.

"The students did a wonderful job," Kennicott said. She and Sutton came up with the idea for the scavenger hunt after Dustin told them how much he liked the 39 Clues books.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation earlier had granted Dustin's request for a family trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., over Christmas break. Dustin said he enjoyed Splash Mountain and other activities at Disney World, going to Universal Studios and Sea World and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean at Cocoa Beach. Dustin and his family stayed seven days at the Give Kids The World Resort, which is where all the Make-A-Wish Foundations kids stay.

In March, Kennicott and Sutton arranged a 13th birthday party for Dustin at Bluff Falls. They decided to do a Percy Jackson theme because Dustin also likes the book series, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians."

Cook said Kennicott did "a phenomenal job" in making all the arrangements for Dustin and his family. She and Sutton are making a scrapbook for Dustin.

Kennicott said The Make-A-Wish Foundation motto is granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy."

Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 65 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 188,000 wishes in the United States since its inception.

For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit wish.org.