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Halee’s Story: Tate Junior Battling Rare Cancer
May 25, 2012
About a month ago, Tate High School junior Halee Boyd was on top of the world….recently named next year’s Beta Club president, involved with the Interact Club and looking forward to graduation just a year away.
But now, she likely won’t be at graduation with her friends at Tate next year, as she battles Alevola Rhabdomyosarcoma , ARMS for short, a rare cancer of the muscles that are attached to the bones. There are only a few hundred new cases per year in the U.S.
Today, as Tate’s seniors celebrate with their annual senior breakfast and preparations for graduation, Halee is facing a blood transfusion at Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
“A month ago we were in my living room watching ‘How I Met Your Mother’ on Netflix and tonight we are waiting for a blood transfusion,” Halee’s mother Mardi Boyd said Thursday night. “No matter how I try, I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around that.”
In April, Halee started having severe headaches, followed by blurry and double vision. Within 10 days her right eye was swollen, and the Boyds headed to a hospital emergency room. On April 29, they learned she had a tumor.
“It is still hard to hear myself say that she has cancer, the words catch in my throat and tears well up in my eyes and my heart stops. It’s not that it’s affected my life so much; it’s that from April 29, 2012, her life changed so drastically in a hallway in an emergency department,” Mardi said.
Besides facing and battling the cancer, the big change for Halee, 17, has been not being in school at Tate.
“I miss being in my classes and my teachers and being surrounded by my Tate family, being social and going to events,” Halee said from Shands Children’s Hospital. “I love my school and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“I miss my friends, being able to see them every day and talking to them. I miss going out with them, but most of all I miss them being normal because now that I have cancer everything feels different.”
The rare cancer calls for extensive treatments. She will have eight solid weeks of combined radiation and chemo at Shands in Gainesville. After her initial treatments at Shands, she will head home to Pensacola for a couple of weeks for “smaller” treatments before heading back to Gainesville for more aggressive treatments.
“I think it is just surreal,” Mardi said, three and half weeks into the treatment regime. “It all seems like a bad dream, I just get up each day and get through it and lean on my faith in God. I have been through some things in life that were bad, but those all made me strong enough to face this. Halee is incredibly strong and we are able to feed off of that.”
Faith has also played a role in the family’s strength.
“The only one who saw this coming was God. While I know He has all the answers, waiting for those to be given to us is another challenge in itself,” Mardi said.
Halee is ready to be back with her Tate family.
“I miss my friends, being able to see them every day and talking to them. I miss going out with them, but most of all I miss them being normal because now that I have cancer everything feels different,” Halee said. “I look forward to going back to school and being able to do normal things that I’m not allowed to do like going to the movies and to the mall, but mostly just going back to school. I’m in my element at school, that’s my joy, I was getting straight A’s and it’s the thing I enjoy the most.”
Halee does not currently have health insurance. Donations are also being accepted for Halee through the family’s church, Heritage Baptist Church, 3065 Highway 297A, Cantonment, (850) 478-3316.
Pictured: Tate High School junior Halee Boyd. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
39 Responses to “Halee’s Story: Tate Junior Battling Rare Cancer”
My family will be praying for you. Our 13 yr old daughter, Amber, has been battling rhabdo for over 6 years. Her tumor is inoperable as well. So you hang in there!
Halee,
The Lord did not promise that life would be easy(I so wish He did) but He did PROMISE TO GO WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
REMEMBER:
YOU CAN TALK TO GOD ANYTIME, CAUSE HE’S LISTENING ALL THE TIME!!!
BLESSINGS BE UPON YOU
OUR GOD IS A HEALER!!!!
i have shared your story hun with my facebook friends and fans and we will be sending a ton of wishes and prayers your way <3
Halee so many are praying for you we won’t stop either I’ve met you but I can say I love you! You have the most beautiful small and an abundance of strength I could say so much more but ill close with saying you are in my ongoing prayers and prayers of strangers all over the country
Halee, We are still praying for you!
I know we all love you so much, and we pray for a miracle.
Stay strong.
HAlEE I’m so glad I’ve got you & your Momma in my life, y’all have helped me through a lot. So excited we’ll be livin together this summer we’re gonna make sure you get better ! Very glad I sent your Momma the “HOPE 4 HALEE” idea
Love you !
hey girly stay strong God will help you and just remember all things happen for a reason! i pray that Jesus heals you and that the cancer never comes back you are so pretty and i can tell you are strong so may God bring you to your graduation! – sister in christ-
I grew up with Halee, daycare was so much fun with her! she was always smiling and laughing, and everytime I saw her around school she would smile and wave at me! she’s such an amazing girl! my prayers go out to her and her family. stay strong Halee <3
i know halee from clavary baptist church she a total sweetheart and im praying that she gets better.. love ya halee
God bless you child…your story breaks my heart but your courage sends me to a wonderful place in Christ…you and your family are so brave and your faith will see you through….as I read your story…I became even more aware of God’s mercy and grace….I know in my heart…you will come through this a living testament of will power and God’s healing grace…and though we are not promised tomorrow…I feel deeply God has a plan and work for you to do…I leave you with this most wonderful verse..”.Peace, be still and know that I am God.”…..
Goody Leggett and Brian are keeping us informed, and I want you to know we are praying for you.
Halee, you are an one of the most incredible young women I’ve ever met. I know the good that is in your heart. You are beautiful…inside and out. Now and always. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hugs and kisses,
Chris
No matter what she is a beautiful girl and I wish her the best care and a full recovery. Just remember for reasons we don’t understand, God always does the right thing.
Praying for God’s healing Halee. You will be in my prayer’s.
Halee,
I am praying for you!!! God is faithful and able to heal you, even in the darkest of times. Isaiah 41:10…”Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Halee, I am a substitute teacher at Tate and I know how loved you are. The students, teachers and faculty have the utmost respect for you and truly care. God will carry you through this, He will wrap His arms of love and mercy around you, He will give you strength and courage, He will lead you and be your light, He will comfort you and give you peace, He is always there for you; so lean on Him and trust Him.
Such a beautiful young lady! With a smile that will light your soul. Hang in there and stay strong!
Hate to mention this, but I hope Chris and Sonja Luker reads this and I hope the guilt eats away at you BOTH! This is who the money you stole helps and I hope you guys live ashamed and so guilty you can’t sleep the rest of your miserable lives!
i am sorry I know God can bring u through it I had breast cancer 6 years ago God helped me through it May God Bless you
I am so sorry to hear about this when i seen Halees picture all i could say is I know that girl and now that I know who you are all i can say is keep faith and GOD has your back and i will pray for you and hope that you get stronger and keep holding on love Kaosha Stromas <3
Praying for you Halee.
Praying for you and your family. Jesus Is Our Healer!
Our prayers go out to Halee and her family. God is the Great Physician and will get you through this terrible illness. Lean on Him for strength and comfort for He will not fail you. God’s grace, peace, love and blessings.
Halee, Keep that strong faith in God and that beautiful smile. The Miracle League , your Tate family and this whole community are all sending our prayers and best wishes to you and your family. God Bless all of you!!!!!!!
As I tell everyone else who requests prayer remember only four words, “ALMIGHTY HEALER and “JUST BELIEVE”. We will be praying for you and believing for your miracle!!
I got goose bumps when I read this story it makes me sad that this young lady was doing everything right in her life but then got hit with a big speed bump. It’s strange how the good ones get sick. I am praying for you to BE HEALED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. I pray to hear and to see pictures of you next year at your graduation because it will happen you will be there on top of your class all healed from your sickness. I don’t know you but I just have it in my heart to say that I LOVE YOU GIRL AND STAY STRONG. Prayers for you ANGEL HALEE
PSU1Earl, you hit the nail on the head. This young lady and the others listed, as well as their families, ALL need the support of ALL of us. My mother lost her short battle with cancer a year and a half ago. After being misdiagnosed and treated for diabetes, her pancreatic cancer spread to her liver and both lungs. She had insurance, but the treatment necessary by the time they figured it out was concidered radical and experimental, so the insurance didn’t cover much, and her treatments cost around $3000 per week, out of pocket, all to no avail. Needless to say, we are all vulnerable, with or without money and with or without coverage and we should all, therefore, help and and give in any way possible. Hoping for full recoveries for all those listed here…
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Halee
.
Very Tragic !!!
Dear Lord please heal this little angel !
MAY GOD BLESS YOU
This family will need all the financial and emotional support this community can muster… I hate to make this a political issue… but NO health insurance… Its hard to make that choice of having an average home and life style, or barely getting by because health insurance is too expensive. Just having to roll the dice that something like this doesn’t happen or go broke trying to pay the monthly payment for family coverage. Its almost as much as my mortgage payment but doesn’t end after 30 years!
As Mickey Powell said: People that don’t know you are now praying for you. Count me in,,,,,,,,,,,,, Our niece, Audra Martin age 16, a Northview student is in Sacred Heart since Sunday fighting the effects of this disease too. Please pray for her.
With God all things are possible for Halee and Audra.
I am the V.P. of sons and daughters of the south we are a riding motorcycle group that does benefit rides for people battleing this disease.this group was set up by my husband and myself 3 yrs ago when i was told i had cancer and didnt have health insurance.now 3 yrs later i am cancer free and trying to give back cause the cancer doctors and the hospital done all my sugeries,chemo,and radiation.and wrote it all off to research.and this is my way of giving back what was giving to me.may god be with you hun…you will be in my prayers and thoughts…
Halee is undergoing a battle no one should ever have to fight Halee is a genuine example of a young woman who gives of herself to her family, friends, school, community and church. Halee we can’t wait until you use the words ‘cancer free’. Know that those of us at Tate High School and Miracle League of Pensacola support you and believe that you will return to us soon. While you are undergoing a major change in you life you are building a wonderful testimony to Faith for all of those around you. We continue to pray and believe for cancer patients everywhere!
It is so sad to see our young people having to go through such terrible diseases. THere is another 17 year old from Barrineau Park at Shands, Josh Inghram, who has heart disease. He had a Berlin heart put in this week. He is a junior at W FL Tech. We all need to add both of these young people to our prayer lists. Also, when you think you are having a bad day, think about them, and you will realize how good you have it.
Prayers are with you . Stay strong and beat this disease ! You have a lot of ppl pulling for you Halee. Always in our prayers ! Go beat this thing !
Just hang in there, God is making you a living testimony
People that don’t know you are now praying for you. Count me in,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Mickey Powell
Flomaton
Praying for you every day, Halee!
Our prayers will continue for Halee and her family until she receives her “cancer free” report. Halee is undergoing something someone should never have to face. This article shows her determination and faith which will enable her to endure this battle and be successful by the hand of God. We at Tate High School miss her and cannot wait for her return. Miracle League of Pensacola honors Halee and her willingness to give of herself for others through Tate Interact. Halee, one day you will share your story, beginning now, and make a difference to others. Blessings, Shirley K. Godwin
What an amazing and beautiful young woman. I pray for the strength and courage to overcome this awful disease. All things are possible.