By: CARISSA HEBERT
LSN Editor
The power of prayer has shown many how strong faith can be when life’s challenges come along. Last year when Kinder Yellow Jacket Will Fontenot began battling AML Leukemia, his team members supplied support through prayer.
Last year when “#WillStrong” was on everyone’s mind while Will struggled with getting healthier, Coach Rick Whittington said, “I believe people are touched when you pray. We kneel because it shows reverence to God and we pray everyday for Will.”
And Will’s teammates never stopped praying for him and showing him their support and faith that he was traveling a special journey with them. Today, they continue to pray for Will and others who are sick.
Update on Will
Will’s mom, Shanna Fontenot, said Will has been in remission since his last treatment. Last year he had a bone marrow transplant in June and stayed in the hospital for three months due to complications. Because of complications, Will is still doing dialysis three days a week. The Fontenots travel to Houston for his dialysis.
“He’s feeling good,” Fontenot said as she explained they were waiting on his blood counts to come up. It’s been over three weeks without a platelet transfer, so they are hoping he is getting healthier. Once his counts are up, he will be eligible for peritoneal dialysis (dialysis at home). Once this occurs, Will will be able to return to school and play his game of baseball.
“It’s literally killing him,” she said. “He’s so ready to get back out there. He’s ready to be around his friends.”
Because of his blood count, Will goes to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays to meet with teachers one-on-one. Fontenot said the family is doing well and thanks everyone for their support of Will.
“We feel those prayers. This is what has gotten us this far.”
Last week, Will attended a game. He couldn’t play, but he wanted to be with his team. Fontenot didn’t know what happened at that game. A parent told her, and Will told her he was glad he went to that game.
“I’m so glad I went to the game,” Will told his mom. When she questioned him, he said, “You’ll see. Miss Jessica (Richard) took a picture.”
Once she spoke to Richard, Fontenot said, “That’s what he meant. Oh that is so good.”
The Game
While playing against Sacred Heart Trojans of Ville Platte in Iota, the group of athletes got together to pray for the coach in Iota when Whittington called Will to the circle for that moment of prayer.
Sacred Heart Senior Blake Hebert said this was the first time he learned of Will’s battle with cancer. He said he knows how much cancer can affect someone.
“We just got done with the National Anthem, and I was on the field,” Hebert said as he explained he should have been talking to his pitcher. Hebert is the catcher for the Trojans like Will is a catcher for the Yellow Jackets.
“Instead, I immediately ran to the dugout to find Will. I told him hope is what will keep you strong.”
Hebert explained he was a Neuroblastoma survivor.
“I told him to look at me. I’m playing the sport that I love. I told him all things were possible through God or Christ; I don’t know how I exactly said it. I told him I would pray for him through St. Jude and to have hope.”
Blake was 10 months old when he was diagnosed with his tumor. He doesn’t remember it, but he remembers going to St. Jude each year and seeing what was happening around him. He said the moment you give up in life, that’s it.
Hebert said Will told him “Thank you.” He said then Kinder beat the Trojans. After the game, he sought Will out again and reminded him to keep fighting and “God bless him.”
Hebert’s mother, Bridget Soileau, said usually she’s at his games. She’s the mother of four boys and just found herself really tired that day. She asked if he would mind if she skipped the game. Soileau said she got a message the next day that Blake had spoken to Will. She said she asked him what he said and told him, “That’s so sweet of you.”
“He (Blake) doesn’t remember having cancer, but he has a strong heart,” Soileau said. “He knows I pray to St. Jude all the time. We named one of her children Jude. St. Jude is a patron saint of hopeless causes.”
Soileau said the doctor told her at the time of Blake’s surgery to remove the tumor that Blake would have all the symptoms as he grew older, but he wouldn’t know it. She said like not sweating, and his left eye doesn’t dilate. His left eye also changed colors from brown to green.
“He’s grown up that way. The tumor was on the nerve on his left side,” Soileau said. “I hope Will continues to do well.”
Richard
Jessica Richard is a parent and takes photos of the games for the area newspaper and her photography business. She saw when Hebert ran to the dugout and pat Will (on the back). She asked Will what he said, but Will wasn’t sure because he said Hebert spoke quickly. After the game, they were able to meet and take a photo together where the two boys shared a moment.
“I’m always going to remember that,” Richard said. “It was awesome.”
Richard said these two boys didn’t know each other, but Hebert made sure to share with Will, who didn’t realize it at first. “Hebert was so pure in saying this to Will. It was nice.”
Prayer does touch everyone, and kind words mean so much to those who are battling hard times. Hebert showed the human spirit is still good and strong, and he took time to show that compassion is important.
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