Calvary student fights cancer with caring

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By Tim Guidera - bio | email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) – She is encouraging and inspirational, the embodiment of resolve and an example of how to spread it to others.

"She's somebody who just has a role model type of spirit and behavior," said Calvary Day School guidance counselor Stacey Mell.

And Amanda Page was demonstrating both again today.

The Calvary 11th grader was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and has had four surgeries in the last month. She'll have a fifth next week. But she spent her day volunteering at the Special Olympics, helping others rather than asking for help.

"It makes me feel good because I know they have it rougher than me,'' she said. "It just makes me happy to help.''

Amanda was one of dozens of students helping at three Special Olympics events across Savannah on Tuesday, sharing support if not necessarily expertise at the Victory Bowling Lanes.

But she was perhaps the only volunteer trying to overcome as great a challenge as the ones these kids face after doctors found a hole in her trachea, then an infection after a tracheotomy.

"Well, at the beginning, it was hard,'' Amanda said of her situation. "I was at Emory and I couldn't walk that much. But then I started walking a little and I got pneumonia. And I'm just getting over that.''

It's taken a few months, but Amanda is now able to lift 12-pound bowling balls. But her real strength is evident in how she continues to give to others during a time that has taken so much from her.

"She has been a real trooper,'' says Mell. "I mean her spirit has never died. I wish I could tell you how many emails I have gotten from her and her mother saying what do we have to do for school.''

And although the surgeries have put the National Honor Society student behind in her school work, Amanda still wanted to take time from her school day for the Special Olympics.

"When they first emailed me and told me she wanted to do this, my first thought as a mother and as a counselor was no, no we have to protect her,'' says Mell. "But my second thought was, she needs this. She wants to participate. She wants to give back, she wants to do something for others because she feels so many people have done things for her.''

And her reasons for wanting to do so were simpler than some reflection of gratitude or demonstration of courage - although it was both of those too.

"I think it's just fun and something I like to do,'' Amanda said. "My problem isn't so severe, so I like to help.''