From an outsider’s perspective, the group of almost 500 people at the Langham Creek YMCA on May 24 may have appeared to be just a small, casual gathering of strangers coming together to celebrate a sporting event or participating in after-school care.

In reality, they were an army and a force to be reckoned with.

The unit is comprised of students, teachers and parents from Copeland Ele­mentary School, Copperfield neigh­borhood, Champions Church of Christ, and friends and family of the Turley family. Together they make up Griffin’s Army. Wearing camouflage hats, T-shirts and pants, waving American flags and carrying homemade signs they were at the YMCA on a mission—to show their support of Griffin, an 11-year-old boy who is fighting cancer.

Griffin, too weak and susceptible to germs from radiation and chemotherapy, was disappointed that he wasn’t able to attend the event in his honor. Days before the walk, in his small hospital room filled with stuffed animals, blankets and a Spongebob pillow from home, the Turleys explained how it all started.
Griffin, a fifth-grader at Copeland Elementary, had just come home from Taekwondo practice and was mentally preparing for the many celebrations marking the end of his elementary school years with his classmates when he felt a mass in his lower stomach. Just a few days before Easter, his mother, Holly, a P.E. coach at his school, took him to the doctor. Thinking that his liver was enlarged, his doctor sent him for an ultrasound on Good Friday that showed a growth on his right kidney. “We immediately were sent to see an oncologist in the ER,” said Holly.

After more tests the growth was confirmed to be a malignant tumor, and the Turleys were sent home with instructions to come back to discuss their treatment plan after the holiday weekend.

“Those three days were about how you’d imagine,” said Holly. “You know, one day I was selling field day T-shirts at school and then three days later … we have cancer,” she said.

But worse news was on its way. After Griffin had his kidney removed, initial results were favorable. “They showed that it was the ‘good kind’ of Wilms’ tumor and easy to treat,” said Holly. But her relief was short lived. Just two days later when they were about to begin his first chemo treatment, they stopped short. It was determined that Griffin actually had the less favorable form of Wilms’ tumor as well as a form of rhabdomyosarcoma. The combined diagnosis is very rare.

“Specialists in treating Wilms’ across the country have only seen three other cases like it,” said Holly. “And they’ve never seen it before at Texas Children’s Hospital.”

The Turleys’ church and school community immediately mobilized, joining forces to ease their burden. Raising Griffin as a single mother, Holly, and her mother, Donna, (who Holly says is her rock and the epitome of what a good mom is) rotate staying with Griffin at the hospital so Holly can put in the necessary hours at work in order to keep her job.

But because of members of Griffin’s Army, she doesn’t have to worry about the day-to-day chores like mowing the lawn, cooking meals or cleaning the house. Church members have helped with the cost of gas and parking fees that accumulate from frequent trips to the medical center. She is also constantly surprised by anonymous signs of support.

“One morning I got up and saw that someone had tied big ribbons around all the trees that said ‘praying for Griffin,’” said Holly. “I don’t know who was behind that, but it was so uplifting.”

Griffin’s classmates had a particularly difficult time dealing with news of his diagnosis. Caitlin Rowley, who is a classmate and on student council with Griffin, said they were shocked to hear about it.

“He seemed like the healthiest kid,” she said. But they, too, quickly rallied together in order to help their friend. “He’s a blessing to our school and it’s important to help people.”

The class had a stuffed monkey, appropriately named “Griffin Monkey,” who sat in Griffin’s chair during class and then went home with a different student each night. They kept a journal of the monkey’s activities and sent letters, videos, pictures and notes of encouragement such as “Hey Griffin, You Rock!” back and forth to him at the hospital.

“I really felt like I wanted to give back,” said Caitlin. To raise money to help the family, his classmates sold Griffin’s Army camouflage wrist bands, T-shirts and ribbons. “I had no idea I had these many friends,” said Griffin. “I thought I just had a couple.”

The march was actually started as a walk around the block for the fifth-graders so they could come together to show Griffin their support as well as to support each other during this difficult time. Karen Ferguson, the march organizer, is a Copeland mom who doesn’t know Griffin but wanted to help. “When I approached the YMCA they enthusiastically embraced the idea and, because of others at the school, the event grew legs. “Suddenly it went from a simple walk to a major event,” Karen said.

Sandra Burns, Holly’s close friend and co-worker at Copeland, said Holly can’t believe the way the Copperfield community has come together to support them. “I live in the neighborhood and wasn’t surprised about the outpouring of support that has taken place, but Holly is overwhelmed, in a good way, by the love she has received from so many people.”

Another colleague, the P.E. coach from Lowery Elementary, was present to show his support as well. David Gaecke knows all too well how powerful a gathering like this can be. Very recently, Karen organized a similar function for his wife, Stacy, who was battling breast cancer.

“It’s an indescribable blessing to know people care in this way to come out and give encouragement like this,” Gaecke said. “Looking back now, it brings back good memories in the midst of our darkest times.” David’s wife, Stacy, passed away Feb. 10, 2010.

Griffin, weak and sick from treatment, has only spent a couple days away from the hospital since he was diagnosed. Holly stands by his bed and holds his hand, rubs his hip, which is sore from lying down, and plays UNO and Monopoly with him when he is feeling up to it. They pray and talk a lot about his fears and why he has to go through this.

“I am very upfront and honest with Griffin about things,” said Holly. “We don’t keep secrets and I don’t gloss over things,” she said. She said the hardest part of all of this is seeing him suffer so much and not be able to take his pain away, “I’ve never been so proud of anyone in my life,” said Holly. “Griffin is so strong and brave.”

Thankfully, Holly said she recently found an inner peace she didn’t think she’d ever find when he was first diagnosed. “I know that somehow, some way we will get through this financially, emotionally and physically,” she said. “I don’t know how, but I focus on each day as it comes and together, Griffin and I hang on to our faith in God.”

The reality is they do have a hard road a head of them. While in great hands at Texas Children’s Hospital, Griffin will certainly continue to have many ups and downs during the next 52 weeks of aggressive treatment that includes frequent rounds of both radiation and chemotherapy.

And Griffin, who was planning on earning his black belt in Taekwondo this summer, doing a lot of swimming and getting ready for middle school in the fall, does get frustrated. Of everything that has changed since Griffin got sick, he said his biggest wish is to be able to hang out with his friends.
“I never in a zillion years would have thought that my precious baby would get cancer,” said Holly. “Yet, because of Griffin’s Army, we know that we’re not going through this journey alone.”

Financial contributions to help Griffin and his mother can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank to the Griffin Turley Benefit Fund

By Jennifer Patrick