Celebrating a Champion

What parents have not heard their child complain of a sore leg? Mildred knows the situation all too well. She brushed off her daughter Micole's complaints as mere "growing pains" until the day she fell on the playground. With great concern Mildred scheduled an appointment for then 10-year-old Micole. The unthinkable happened next. The pediatrician found osteosarcoma-bone cancer-in Micole's right leg. The doctor sent Micole immediately to Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center for further testing.

Osteosarcoma occurs most often in teenagers. Although cancer in children and teenagers is rare, approximately 400 new cases of osteosarcoma occur each year. Without being able to pinpoint a cause, doctors link the cancer to the rapid growth spurts that are so common in the teenage years.

Since her first visit to Duke Children's, Micole has undergone 10 pre-surgical visits, a seven-hour surgery to insert a steel "bone" under the skin of her diseased leg and more than 20 post-surgical visits. Most of these hospital visits have been for either chemotherapy or physical rehabilitation.

The completion of chemotherapy was a time of mixed emotions for Micole. Though very happy to have chemo behind her, she knew she would miss all the friends she had made at Duke Children's. Micole loves life. She enjoys the adventure of meeting people and quickly counts most as members of her large circle of friends.

Micole is also a fighter. Although she missed a great deal of school for her treatments, she maintained her honor roll status in the sixth grade, stayed active in Girl Scouts and volunteering and was honored as Student of the Month at her middle school. She has a great attitude and a beautiful smile. She loves to talk and hopes one day to be a lawyer. Or maybe the silver screen is in her future. Micole starred in a series of Duke Cancer Center commercials. She also served as ambassador for North Carolina in the Children's Miracle Network Champions Across America program. Micole is another example of the many amazing kids Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center helps each and every day.