Young cancer patient encourages a golden effort

From ribbons to T-shirts to the lights of the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse, bright spots of gold have been popping up around the area and encourage others to "fight like a kid."

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and to support the cause, people are encouraged to paint the town gold.

"I would like to see it become like October," said Andrea Allstun, referring to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. "Why not make gold, like pink?"

She started the effort known as Going Gold for Kids, which has taken its message to area businesses -- including banks, florists and construction companies -- to go gold. Jackson Mayor Barbara Lohr even delivered a proclamation recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Allstun said she started Going Gold for Kids primarily as a social media movement to encourage people to learn more about childhood cancer and to become involved in awareness efforts. Getting involved can include donations, she said, but it can be as simple as learning more about the issue and sharing facts with others.

The reason behind her efforts to paint the town gold is simple, said Allstun.

"If it were my child, I would want someone to do this for me," she said.

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children younger than 15 in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute, and it has affected plenty of families in the area. The Glastetter family of Jackson is among those whose lives have been touched by the disease.

At 18 months old, Wyatt Glastetter was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma. It's a rare disease in which a solid tumor is formed by special nerve cells called neuroblasts. Normally, the cells grow and mature into functioning nerve cells. But in neuroblastoma, they become cancer cells instead.

Wyatt now is 3 and making regular trips to St. Louis for chemotherapy treatments, but his mother Stacy Glastetter said he's endured a lot more in his life.

"At only 3 years old, he knows more pain than most adults," she said.

They've gone as far as New York to find treatments for Wyatt, and Glastetter said it's disheartening how few treatments are available for her son and other children with a cancer diagnosis. Most treatments actually are designed for adults, with levels adjusted for children based on height and weight, she said.

But new treatments for children can't come without more research, and more research can't come without more funds. All types of childhood cancers combined receive only 4 percent of federal funding for cancer research, according to St. Baldrick's Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity that funds childhood cancer research.

Many organizations dedicated to cancer awareness give a comparatively small percentage of money to children's cancer, which is why Glastetter and Allstun encourage people to research organizations before making donations.

Before Wyatt's diagnosis, and even during the early stages, Glastetter said her family was "comfortable" financially. But just as cancer has taken its toll on her son's health, it has stretched the family thin financially.

"Cancer affects every aspect of your life," she said. "When I say it affects every aspect, I mean from your job to your financial stability."

The family has downsized and sold vehicles to continue paying for Wyatt's medical needs. Travel expenses consistently crop up as well, since no resources are available locally for Wyatt.

But Wyatt's needs have not been ignored by friends, family or the community. Benefits have been hosted in his name, and Heather Slinkard, Glastetter's niece, said they have proved popular in the community. Slinkard has organized another benefit, which will be Saturday, to help the family as Wyatt goes through his latest treatments.

"This money will actually help meet their needs, whether it's gas money or food or whatever," she said of the Glastetters.

The event also helps people realize that local families are dealing with childhood cancer, Slinkard said, and makes people think about an issue that might otherwise be ignored.

Allstun agreed the issue is not easy to face, but said she's hopeful more people will take up the cause. She's constantly seeing new ribbons and messages to go gold at Jackson businesses and said she hopes to see the message spread to Cape Girardeau and beyond.

"This community has been very receptive to helping people," she said.

The Saturday benefit for Wyatt will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot at 1815 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson. It includes a bake sale, carwash and raffles for prizes such as free photo shoots and salon certificates. A Gofundme account also has been set up for Wyatt at gofundme.com/cv3abc.

Those interested in learning more about Going Gold for Kids may visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/GoingGoldforKids.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Jackson, MO