Earlier in the year, Marietta High School’s Student Council Advisor Scott Anderson told his members about a project that he’d been involved in previously, where the student body participated in fund raising to help local people.
“When Mr. Anderson was talking to us about the project, I immediately thought about one of our kindergarteners who had recently been diagnosed with cancer,” said Student Council Secretary Emily Faulkenberry, “and we all agreed, what better way to help than to help one of our own?”
And so, Indians Helping Out People, or “IHOP” was born.
MHS Student Council members are hosting the first of what they hope will be many IHOP weeks, from October 2 through 13, and the monies they raise will be given to the family of kindergarten student Olivia Clamon, the daughter of Scott -- a Marietta grad – and Carley Clamon.
After Scott and Carley noticed something out of the ordinary with Olivia, they sought medical attention and were immediately transported to Cooks Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Olivia was given a preliminary diagnosis of Wilms, a rare kidney cancer. Soon, Olivia had surgery in which her left kidney was removed, along with affected lymph nodes.
On September 7, Olivia and her parents were given an official diagnosis of Stage IV Wilms with Pulmonary Metastasis. The treatment, which Olivia has already begun at Cooks, includes both chemotherapy and radiation.
Although a childhood cancer diagnosis is the absolute last thing any parent ever wants to hear, the prognosis for Wilms is good, with an 85 percent survival rate.
For now, both Scott and Carley are still trying to work, while tag-teaming Olivia’s doctor’s and treatment appointments and homeschooling her for the time being.
“The first few weeks were really hard, and we still have our moments, but we’ve come to the realization of what’s going on, and we’re trying to be as strong as we can be for Olivia,” Carley said. “We’re just hoping for the very best outcome.”
Olivia is taking it in stride.
“She’s been great from the beginning,” continued Carley. “She doesn’t really fully understand what’s going on, but she’s been really strong through it all.”
Carley reports that the family has had an outpouring of support since the diagnosis.
“Between our friends and family, our co-workers, and our community, people have been there to help when we’ve needed it,” she said. “It’s just been amazing.”
If MHS Student Council members have their way, the family will be receiving some monetary support to help defray the costs of traveling to Fort Worth for treatment, among the many other expenses that result from long-term medical care.
Plans for IHOP include a project that has several component parts.
First, classes will be holding penny wars, so students are asked to gather up all their loose change for the competition.
Next is Jail Day. Students will have the opportunity to have their teachers put in “jail” for 15- or 30-minute sentences by donating $5 or $10, respectively. Teachers can be bailed out early by donation.
The last planned activity is called Tape a Teacher. In this fundraiser, students can pay a fee for a 16-inch piece of duct tape which will then be used to tape the assistant high school principal, Mrs. Goode, to the wall in the high school building.
Additionally, donations are being accepted from the public. Anyone wishing to donate may drop their donation at the high school. For additional information, contact Anderson at (580) 238-8878.