Katy Lifestyles and Homes magazine Oct 2009: Feature - Cancer Survivor Scholarship, Brandal McCormack

The impact of cancer diagnosis in children is challenging and can have an impact on planning their futures in education.

With that in mind, 17 childhood cancer survivors from the greater Houston area have been awarded Childhood Cancer Survivor Scholarships by the American Cancer Society this year. The scholarships are tailored for children who have survived cancer and are seeking an undergraduate degree. They are funded by Relay For Life events across Texas.

With family and friends at their side, the scholarship recipients were honored at Inn at the Ballpark in downtown Houston followed by an Astros game against the Giants at Minute Maid Park. The luncheon was emceed by KTRK-TV sports anchor Bob Slovak. Other guests included American Cancer Society staff, volunteers and childhood cancer researchers.

Some of the scholarship recipients were diagnosed and treated at such a young age they don ’t remember that time of their lives, but others can recall every detail. Regardless, each one is thankful for the support of family and friends who never left their side before, during and after their battles with cancer.

Katy resident Brandal McCormack is one of the 2009-10 recipients of this exceptional scholarship.

In March of 1996, 7-year-old McCormack was given the news that he

had brain cancer. Though McCormack did not understand much about cancer at the time, he knew the hurt it could cause; his grandfather passed away from a brain tumor just a month before McCormack ’s diagnosis.

He recalls, “I will always remember the doctor telling my grandmother he was sorry for the loss of her husband, but that her grandson will be fine. ”

McCormack, a graduate of James E. Taylor High School, missed most of his second-grade year for treatments, but that didn ’t stop his teacher from influencing his life.

“I had the best teacher. She really encouraged me throughout the year,” said McCormack.

Now a junior at Baylor University, McCormack is studying church recreation, which he hopes will help him in pursuing a life in ministry. He is active in the Phi Kappa Chi fraternity and Baylor Religious Hour choir. He is passionate about his family, friends and golfing for fun.

Though McCormack is cancer-free, his story isn’t finished. He has hopes of starting a family life center in the future, and he continues to live each day to the fullest.

“Take one day at a time. God has taught me to slow it down and recognize he is always there, ” McCormack said.

The American Cancer Society created the scholarship program in 2002 and has since awarded 539 students nearly $1.9 million. High Plains Division residents who are U.S. citizens under the age of 25 and have had a diagnosis of cancer before age 21 are eligible to apply.

Tremendous progress has been made in the treatments of childhood cancers. For all childhood cancers combined, 5-year relative survival has improved over the past 30 years, from less than 50 percent before the 1970s to nearly 80 percent today, as a result of new and improved treatments.

For more information about childhood cancers, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.l