DUNCAN, Okla_A Duncan boy is fighting
for his life and is asking for the support of our community to help him every
step of the way. One week from Saturday, motorcycles will rev their engines for
a poker run that begins at Lawton's
Pro-Team Harley-Davidson to help give the Sanders family the support they need
as their son battles leukemia.
12 year old Dalton
Sanders was diagnosed with leukemia just two months ago, and ever since, he has
been traveling back and forth to Oklahoma
City for chemotherapy and treatments, which is putting a huge financial burden on his
family.
"It is really
difficult, it hurts and it just makes me feel really bad," Dalton said.
Life for the
past two months has been anything but easy for Dalton. He said he first noticed something
was wrong when all he wanted to do was sleep, something that was unusual for
the normally active boy.
"Just lost
all energy and my eyes started turning yellow and my skin and I was falling
asleep in class."
When those
symptoms got worse, Dalton
went to the ER. It was there they told him he had leukemia.
"They told
me what it was and I really didn't think much of it. I didn't want to hear
anything about it. I just didn't want to hear anything they had to say."
Since the
diagnosis, Dalton travels to Oklahoma City as often as four times a week,
depending on his treatment schedule. With the cost of gas these days, his
mother Valerie said those trips can cost as much as $400 dollars a week, not to
mention the toll it takes on the family.
"It's hard
knowing that a 12 year old has to go through this and it has put the family in
so much heartache."
The hardest
part of the journey so far for Dalton
is losing his hair and muscle tone. He like any other 7th grader wants to feel
like he fits in, but he's not giving up hope.
"I want to
be able to do stuff by myself I can barely get off the couch by myself and I
wish I could but it's just hard I mean. I don't like it."
His doctor said
he'll probably need treatment for the next three years, so there's a long road
ahead for Dalton
and his family.
If you would
like to come and support them in his poker run, you can sign up at the Lawton Pro-Team
Harley-Davidson. The cost is $10 and riders will begin taking off here at 9 a.m.
going through Duncan, Rush
Springs, Elgin and ending at the VFW on Northeast
20th.
For more
information on the ride you can visit the store, just ask about the benefit
poker run for Dalton Sanders.
