Applebee’s Hosts Fundraiser for Spring Hill Teen Fighting Cancer By ASHLEY BONE
Staff Reporter Every day is a challenge for Teresa Rose. She homeschools her two teenage sons and manages everyday household chores. On top of that, her 15-year-old son Joshua Stevens has been battling cancer for three years. Twice a week, they drive to Hendersonville for treatments.
The cancer is in Joshua's leg tissue, which makes getting out of bed, into the bathtub and down the stairs of their two-story Spring Hill home, a difficult task.
“He had his left femur bone replaced and he was cancer-free for about a year, but it's back in his leg tissue,” Rose said.
She waits at home for a phone call from their physician at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. They are trying to decide if they should amputate his leg to alleviate his pain because morphine and lortabs are not helping.
“He did one session of chemotherapy but now we are focusing on alternative medicines,” Rose said. “I don't think he would have made it through the whole chemo session.”
Dealing with the deadly cancer disease is not new to Rose.
“I had breast cancer while I was pregnant with Joshua and went through two rounds of chemotherapy while I was pregnant,” she said.
Her oldest son, Corey, age 17, had cancer in 2005 in his arm and lung. He is cancer free and helps his mother with household chores and caring for Joshua.
“It's hard because I know what they are going through,” Rose said.
Corey attends the Franklin TaeKwondo Academy. The academy and Applebee's have partnered for a fundraiser to benefit the family. A pancake breakfast will be held at Applebee’s from 7-9 a.m. on Saturday, April 5. Tickets are $5 and include pancakes and sausage.
“We're trying to raise money for a chair lift so Joshua can manage the stairs easier,” she said, adding that the mounting credit card bills of $20,000 for medical expenses are added stress to the already stressful situation. “We need a deep bathtub that he can easily climb in and out of. Even the water from a shower is painful for him.”
Despite the challenges the family is facing, they try to make life as normal as possible.
“We watch uplifting and funny movies to take his mind off everything and he enjoys drawing,” Rose said.
Last week Joshua enjoyed a tour of the NFL Tennessee Titans practice facility. He met several of the players and coaches and received an autographed football.
“It was fun,” Joshua said. “I like football.”
Odyssey Healthcare comes to the house to help care for Joshua.
For more information on Joshua Stevens and his fight for life, visit www.IAmAtPeaceWithDestiny.com. Donations can be made through the Web site or at any Regions Bank into the Joshua Kyle Stevens Benefit Fund.
Staff Reporter Ashley Bone can be reached at abone@c-dh.net. |
