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    Tyrrell school girl Berry

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November 19, 2007

School pulls together to help one of their own

Mary Meaux

PORT ARTHUR — Kaitlyn Berry chatted a mile a minute with friends before she turned to them and asked if they wanted to see her scar.

The 10-year-old raised her shirt just above her navel to show a small vertical scar, a remnant from an Oct. 6 surgery to remove a tumor and one of her ovaries.

When friends and fellow students at Tyrrell Elementary School learned that Berry was ill and battling cancer, they decided to help. Kindergarten teacher Emily Martin began the “Pennies from Heaven” drive and $1,500 was raised in two weeks. By the third week a total of $2,200 was raised for the family to help with medical bills and other related expenses.

Berry; her mother, Emily Martin; and brothers, Justice Figette and Brandon Romero were presented the check on Monday at the school.

“I can’t believe the students did this for our daughter and for us,” Abshire said. “It’s overwhelming.”

The mother explained that about seven weeks ago they found out that Berry had a yolk sac tumor on one of her ovaries. The ovary was removed but the cancer is still there. Berry will undergo months of chemotherapy which leaves her sicker and sicker after each treatment.

“She’s handling it well but she doesn’t understand she’s a very sick little girl,” she said. “I try not to break down in front of her. She has asked me why she has cancer and I told her that sometimes bad things happen but we’ll get through it. God only gives you what you can handle.”

The close knit group of fifth graders found their own ways to raise money for their friend. Kristie Sharpe said she and her mother and sister had a garage sale and donated proceeds to Berry while Samantha Wise collected all the loose change she could find and even searched under sofa cushions.

Brooke Curtis and Dèrius Grigsby said being able to help their friend makes them feel good.

“I’m happy, not because I have cancer but because my friends raised money for me,” Berry said as she threw her arms over her friends’ shoulders.

An account has been set up to help Berry and her family with medical expenses. Donations can be made to Texas State Bank, account No. 8997632.

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