I
Ill, 1994 .
The Message -- for Catholics of Southwestern Indiana
3
ugh a mother's eyes
i i ii I I
Unfried looks at her son Troy's drive to beat leukemia
HUGHES
staff writer
n Karen Unfried talks
Troy, she talks
She says he al-
it, even as a young
ng Sports for Holy
as a soccer
at Memorial High
eves his drive is
him through
brush with
and now it will pro-
college.
to believe
ago, her son could
of his hospital
at St. Jude's
in Mem-
diagno-
leukemia
rapy,
transplant and
life.
s illness is in re-
a student at
California and a
school's soccer
raother, Karen,
his struggles
and its treat-
about a son
Oped courage
She attrib-
endurance to
sports.
he con-
towards the
et for himself be-
ill and he "al-
his illness
warning.
Swollen lymph
by a fever and
then another swollen lymph
gland. He was a freshman
member of the soccer team at
Western Kentucky University
and when he told his trainer,
he was immediately sent to the
school doctor. The doctor did
some blood work, and that
same night, Troy was admitted
to St. Jude's Hospital.
Once there, he was diag-
nosed with leukemia and
began undergoing chemother-
apy and then a bone marrow
transplant. His weight plum-
meted from 156 pounds down
to 118 pounds and he was re-
stricted to his hospital room for
eight straight weeks.
But while his body was los-
ing strength, his spirit was
gaining some.
He put ski posters all over
the white walls of his hospital
room and told everyone who
entered that he would be ski-
ing soon.
"He knew he wanted to play
soccer again, and so he ac-
cepted whatever the physical
therapist told him to do. No
matter how bad he felt, he
would get up on his hands and
legs on the bed and do his exer-
cises."
Letters from home and visits
from family and friends also
helped bolster his spirits.
When four of his friends in
Evansville learned about his
chemotherapy treatments,
they went to a barbershop and
had their heads shaved in a
show of solidarity. During his
hospital stay, he received over
800 cards and letters. "The
most exciting moment every
day was at 11 a.m. when I
] July 21 -- A=
aiffare from
at
• Escorted by
professional tour
director
• Comprehensive sightseeing
throughout
* All hotel service charges and local taxes
.00 --
One Of those places that dominates the world
Only the home of Pope John Paul II whom
it is also one of the great cities of the
visit churches and walk in the catacombs
gathered to pray and worship God. We
Chapel and the magnificent artistry of
We'll also visit Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri,
3, Verona, Stresa, Pisa, and Florence. Come
s sure to be a wonderful adventure.
Sincerely, Father Joseph Zlllak
I would like to know more about
your tour. Please send me addi-
tional information.
Name
Illak
, IN 47630
Address
City
State/ZIP
"Let's not ask, 'why did this
happen to you' but let's ask,
'what do we have to do to get you
well. '"
Karen Unfried
went to the mail room," Karen
said.
"We had a lot of support and
prayers from our friends and
family and that helped us get
through it. A lot of people told
me they were praying for Troy
in their prayer groups."
The support helped during
the rough moments. "It's hard
for a teenager to lose all his
hair and it's hard to see all
your friends going out. But he
stood it really well."
He was sustained by his
mother's strength and her un-
willingness to give up. She told
him: "Let's not ask, 'why did
this happen to you' but let's
ask, 'what do we have to do to
get you well."
Over the winter months, she
watched as Troy "first started
walking, then jogging and then
running."
Finally, in June he was
strong enough to travel to
Lake Tahoe to visit family
members. He wanted to ski.
"That day, on June 6, it
snowed all day. It was just like
God let it snow. There was a
whole blizzard in June."
He spent last summer in Col-
orado, training on a mountain
bike, building up his leg mus-
cles for soccer. Then in August,
he headed to Western Ken-
tucky to begin, again, as a stu-
dent and a member of the soc-
cer team.
But when he arrived, he
brought a new outlook on life
with him. He began to realize
that Western Kentucky wasn't
for him any more, so he made
plans to transfer to Chico
State, a school with a soccer
program he had followed
throughout high school.
In a letter to school officials
at Western Kentucky, Troy
wrote: "After experiencing the
battle of my life, ! realized how
TROY UNFRIED
precious life is and that we
only go around one time. Con-
sequently, I arrived at the de-
cision to go after all of my
hopes and dreams without any
remorse. It is my hope and
dream to attend Chico State
and play soccer for them."
After Christmas, he headed
for California to began classes
at Chico State.
While he is unsure about
what direction his studies will
take him, Karen says he is
hoping "to give back to others
what has been given to him."
She adds, "What I want for
him are his health, his happi-
ness and also for him to be able
to give back."
He already has the drive.
Following is a new feature in the Message, designed to
help draw together the People of God in southwestern Indi-
ana. Readers are invited to submit information about people
who may benefit by some extra prayers and attention.
• Prayers, notes, cards and letters are requested for Rita
Farny, a teacher at Holy Rosary School, Evansville.
Rita was diagnosed with cancer a year ago and has been
on medical leave this school year, according to her sister,
Betsy Bender, a teacher at Resurrection School, Evansville.
Rita has been a teacher at Holy Rosary since 1979. She
began her teaching career at St. Philip School in 1966 and
taught at Nativity School, Evansville, from 1967 to 1970.
She also taught at St. Boniface School, Evansville, from
1970 to 1979.
In 1993, she was named the diocesan Teacher of the
Year, along with Katie Schwenk of Corpus Christi School, Evansville, and Benedictine Sister
Mary Francis Williams of Mater Dei High School, Evansville.
Bender said many people throughout the diocese are "concerned about Rita, but they don't
know what to do. I feel like she really needs a boost right now and I think this extra attention
will do it for her."
Rita Farny's address is 519 N. 11th Avenue, Evansville IN 47712.
Please send information for PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT to Mary Ann Hughes, The
Message, P.O. Box 4169, Evansville, IN47724.
I I I J iiiiii iiiii
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