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True grit: Roane State softball player Briar Mays refuses to let cancer stand in her way

Posted at 8:22 pm November 1, 2016
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

Roane State softball player Briar Mays, left, is undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer but intends to return to the squad in the spring. She is pictured with teammate Kacee Hedrick. (Photo by Roane State)

Roane State softball player Briar Mays, left, is undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer but intends to return to the squad in the spring. She is pictured with teammate Kacee Hedrick. (Photo by Roane State)

 

Briar Mays said she started noticing it last September—her right leg and hip were hurting.

During warm-ups and workouts as a freshman member of the Roane State Community College women’s softball team, Briar said she had to use her arms to pull her legs up for some exercises.

Physical therapy was recommended and undertaken, but that didn’t help ease the pain.

Still, the 18-year-old former standout for Forrest High School’s softball team in tiny Chapel Hill, Tennessee, finished out last fall’s season for the Roane State squad, playing left field.

It was only after an MRI in January that Briar received the devastating news: she had cancer. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Front Page News, Health Tagged With: Briar Mays, cancer, chemotherapy, Ewing sarcoma, physical therapy, Roane State, Roane State Community College, softball, sports, Sue Niemi, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, women's softball

Riley, 5, loves princesses but battles brain tumor

Posted at 12:02 am May 3, 2014
By Sara Wise Leave a Comment

Riley Mozingo

Five-year-old Riley Mozingo was diagnosed with brain cancer May 10, 2010. A princess-themed carnival was held Friday at Lake City Elementary School in her honor. All proceeds from the carnival will help fund her bedroom renovation. (Photos by Sara Wise)

LAKE CITY—“Come on, let’s go,” shouts Riley Mozingo as she drags her good friend, Anderson County Schools junior Emilee Hooks, toward the bounce house outside Lake City Elementary School.

Riley is a typical five-year-old. She loves princesses—especially The Little Mermaid, Ariel—and has big dreams to become a doctor when she grows up. But one thing sets Riley apart: she was diagnosed with astrocytoma grade 3.

She has had eight procedures since she was diagnosed with the brain tumor on May 14, 2010, and has undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Now, she has to attend physical therapy sessions because she has trouble with her left side. Her tumor hasn’t shrunk—it actually got bigger during chemo—but it’s stayed about the same size with radiation.

Riley Mozingo and Little Mermaid

Riley admires a Little Mermaid-themed game during the carnival.

But it’s not all bad for Riley. She’s about to have her bedroom renovated by Special Spaces of Knoxville. The nonprofit organization renovates rooms for sick children all across the country, especially those with life-threatening illnesses. Riley is getting a princess-themed room.

Melanie Lamberson of Special Spaces said that once she heard about a five-year-old with cancer, she knew she had to help. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Community, Education, Health, K-12, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Ariel, astrocytoma, brain tumor, cancer, Carnival, chemotherapy, Cinderella, Clinch River Community School, Disney, Emilee Hooks, Hat Day, Heather Herrin, kindergarten, Lake City Elementary School, LCES, Little Mermaid, Melanie Lamberson, physical therapy, princess, radiation treatment, Riley Mozingo, Snow White, Special Spaces, Tomeka Mozingo, Wood Maryville

Quilters’ gifts bring warmth, encouragement to cancer patients at Hospitality Houses

Posted at 10:46 am July 7, 2013
By Methodist Medical Center Leave a Comment

Ritzy Thimble Quilters Guild Group Picture

Members of the Ritzy Thimble Quilters’ Guild gather around the quilts they made and donated to Methodist’s Hospitality Houses. (Submitted photo)

The Hospitality Houses of Methodist Medical Center have been a refuge for thousands of visitors as they travel to the hospital for treatment. The houses provide a welcoming, home-like atmosphere for cancer patients and their families who must travel at least 30 miles to receive cancer treatment.

The Hospitality Houses are supported through generous donations from the community. For the last 10 years, one community organization, the Ritzy Thimble Quilters’ Guild, has offered a unique kind of support to the cancer patients at the Hospitality Houses. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: cancer, chemotherapy, Debbie Scarbrough, hospital, Hospitality Houses, Methodist Medical Center, Mike Belbeck, quilts, Ritzy Thimble Quilters' Guild

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Classifieds

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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