Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

Carol’s Corner

June 3, 2007

A Team Player at all Cost

Carol Roach

What does it take to be courageous, what does it take to be a hero? These fundamental questions probably do not have a single answer.  The definition of courageous provided by www.dictionary.com is “possessing or characterized by courage; brave: a courageous speech against the dictator.” While one definition for hero means “a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.”

Not many of us would argue with that definition. We clearly can understand the heroism of the celebrated soldier coming back from war, or the firefighter who risks his/her life everyday to save innocent victims from the scorching flames.  However, how many of us take the time to recognize the unsung heroes of the world, especially when they children or teenagers?

Raphael Leclaire is a 16 year old from Montreal, suffering from Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, (also sometimes incorrectly written as Non-Hodgkin's, non hodgkins lymphoma or Non-Hodgkins disease). Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer of the blood that affects the white blood cells, which are usually involved in protecting against infection. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a complex disease that is relatively little known by the general public, despite its growing prevalence worldwide.” http://www.lymphoma-net.org/index.cfm?source=google&keyword=other

Raphael Leclaire was struck by this disease at the age of 12 and treated at that time.  His Doctors discovered the cancer had returned last fall, when he was examined and subsequently treated for a sore throat.   “Doctors believe some cells escaped treatment the first time and caused the recurrence. As a result, Leclaire is getting an extra-heavy dose of nausea-causing drugs this time around.” http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=fd40fe2d-08bf-445e-a687-e6689d43a182&k=49590

Saku Koivu, born in Turku, Finland is the caption of the Montreal Canadian Hockey Team.  He is also a survivor of this disease. After six seasons in the NHL, Koivu was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in September 2001 and missed practically the entire 2001-02 NHL season. He made an amazing recovery and was able to return for the playoffs, leading the Canadiens to an unlikely first-round upset of the number one-ranked Boston Bruins. For his courage and off-ice team leadership while undergoing cancer treatment, he was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy following the 2002 playoffs. He followed up in the 2002-03 NHL season by scoring his career best single-season point total with 71 (21 goals, 50 assists). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saku_Koivu

Raphael Leclaire and Saku Koivu share more in common than this terrible disease. They share their love for sports and their dedication to their teams.  Raphael Leclaire is the co-caption of his midget Double-A College Notre-Dame Titans basketball team.

Leclaire made the choice to postpone his eight and final chemo therapy treatment for three days in order to be with his team in the semi-finals.  The alternative his said was to “"… to go to the hospital to get the chemo and then go sit on the bench and be sick.” http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=fd40fe2d-08bf-445e-a687-e6689d43a182&k=49590&p=1

“Leclaire's inspirational return after months of debilitating treatment helped the Titans to their quarterfinal victory over Academie Dunton a week ago…” Unfortunately, the season is over and they lost to St-Exupery 74-64.” Even though many fans came up to congratulation him on his accomplishments, Raphael was not happy with his performance and his team’s lost.  http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports/story.html?id=924e64fc-d1fa-4333-a23d-274d51644901&k=48727&p=1

The Titans came first over and above his own physical health. Though disappointed about the loss, Raphael Leclaire is a courageous and inspirational young man.  Rather than bring himself down by giving into the disease, he chooses to look towards his future. 

His fellow classmates at Notre Dame, wanted to appeal to the Make-A-Wish Foundation on his behalf.  They were hoping that the foundation would send him to Phoenix, Ariz., to meet his idol, Suns point-guard Steve Nash of the National Basketball Association. Steven John Nash A.K.A. The Dime God is also a Canadian professional basketball player. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Nash)

“The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Canada is part of the largest not-for-profit wish granting organization in the world, serving 30 countries with International affiliates on five continents (Make-A-Wish Foundation^® International). “Since our inception in 1983, the volunteers of Make-A-Wish^® worldwide have helped make hundreds of thousands of wishes come true. Its mandate is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.” http://www.makeawish.ca/

Leclaire refused the offer, he told them, “I'd rather leave my place to someone who needed it more." Instead he appealed to them to donate to the Saku Koivu Foundation to help fight cancer.

“The Foundation was created with one single purpose in mind: to provide the greater Montreal region with a PET/CT Scan machine, a sophisticated piece of equipment used in diagnosing and treating various illnesses with what is known as Positron Emission Tomography.

In a society where the prospect of cancer is a daily reality for far too many, the PET/CT Scan is critical in the early detection of tumours and determining the most effective treatment, thus increasing the chances of beating this disease. There are very few such machines available for use in the Montreal area.” http://sakukoivu.sympatico.ca/mission-en.html

The Notre Dame students staged a talent show and raised $4,000 for the foundation.

“Raphael's letter to his fellow students was also circulated in the financial industry, and it turned hard-bitten money managers to mush. They kicked in another $48,000.” http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=fd40fe2d-08bf-445e-a687-e6689d43a182&k=49590&p=1

The courage of this young man has done much for his community, his fellow team members and his peers.  Raphael has raised the awareness level of this hardly known disease and brought it home to the heart of his fellow classmates.  Students see for themselves this is not a disease that affects only celebrities or adults.  Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma affects children as well.  No longer is it a disease that affects someone else.  It is a disease that affects one of their own.  The business community has responded to a young man in need, a boy with very little notoriety but plenty of spunk.  His fellow team mates learn through example how hard work and dedication not only creates a good team atmosphere; it preserves a quality of life.

Raphael Leclaire may not have won that particular game of basketball but he won at the game of life. He may not be a celebrated basketball hero like his idol Steve Nash, but he is a hero in every sense of the word.    

Don’t forget to purchase my new book:  Available in e-book or printed book form.

“Angels Watching Over Me.” http://www.lulu.com/content/644485