Cy-Fair High School senior Ayana Cameron was selected last week as one of the winners in the Barbara Jordan Media Awards. These awards are presented by the Governor’s Office to media professionals and students who portray people with disabilities in an accurate and respectful manner, using “people first” language and relevant Associated Press (AP) Style references.

Cameron’s article, “Senior triumphs over cancer,” published on Oct. 2, 2009 in the Cy-Fair Reporter, won in the Student Feature Writing category. The story followed Cy-Fair senior Brent Adams’ fight against the rare disease, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.

“Ayana exemplies the ethics and morality of a great journalist and represents Cy-Fair journalism's drive to be the voice of those who have none,” said Reporter editor, senior Nam-My Le.

Cameron will be honored at an awards ceremony to be held on Saturday, April 17, at 7 p.m. in Denton, hosted by the University of North Texas’ Mayborn School of Journalism.

“I was so sure this story was ideal for this contest,” said Lillian Harris, Cy-Fair publications adviser. “Ayana is an absolutely delightful girl with quite a future ahead of her. What makes Ayana exceptional is that she is extremely humble and modest. Although writing comes very natural to her, she is not above working very hard at her interviews and her writing. I am blown away every time she writes a story for our newspaper.”

Here's the article written by the talented Ayana:

"Senior Triumphs Over Cancer"

“Is Brent going to die?”

His parents shivered as the very thought that ran through their minds leaked out of the little girl’s mouth like taboo. They waited anxiously in the cold bleach-washed hallway. The minds of a mother, father, and daughter raced with “what ifs” as they sat, hoping, praying…waiting.

Senior Brent Adams was only 17 months old when he was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (his-tee-osite-osis) With little known about the disease, and even less knowledge of its cure, it was
clear that from the day he was born, Brent would be fighting for his life.

“The doctors already knew it would be hard for me,” Brent said.

What doctors couldn’t predict was that Brent Adams would vigorously overcome these obstacles and exceed everyone’s expectations.

LCH primarily affects children, although adults can also get it. LCH has only recently been included in medical dictionaries.

“It only affects 1 in 200,000 children,” Brent’s mother, Barbara  Adams, said. “There’s still just not enough information on LCH or how to treat it, especially at that time.”

In a healthy body, white blood cell, such as the Langerhans, help maintain the immune system by protecting it from viruses, bacteria, and
other foreign materials. The problem is that Langerhans cells, which
reproduce abnormally and in great numbers, attack and destroy the body particularly in the bones, skin, lungs, and in the rarest of cases, the central nervous system. Basically, LCH causes the body to fight against itself.

When he was 2 years old after receiving chemotherapy, Brent
and his family were relieved to find that he had gone into remission. This was short lived.

“Six weeks later he relapsed,” Mrs. Adams said. “And we found
out the Histiocytosis went into his nervous system. Talk about the worst lottery ever.”

As six years passed, Brent underwent radiation, but it had little effect. His doctor, Kenneth McClain, started Adams on an even stronger source of chemotherapy. With nothing more to try, Brent then went
on what doctor’s call, ironically, “Watchful waiting” until more symptoms appeared.

Despite the sense of serenity, the words ‘watchful waiting’ give, Brent Adams’ life was far from serene. Still he suffered from other sicknesses - many as a result of LCH - and underwent serious procedures such as
biopsies on his brain and skin, even the removal of a tumor through a craniotomy.

“When he was four, doctors found a tumor behind his left eye. It was a 9-hour surgery, and they ended up having to push his eye socket back in place,” Mrs. Adams said.

Once a month, for five days a week, Brent and his family would travel nearly 40 minutes to Texas Children’s Hospital in the Medical Center.
Their insurance did not cover expenses. Both physically and emotionally drained, the family struggled to keep hope.

“The first year was just so scary and awful, after that…it just kept getting worse, and we had no government or research support,” Mrs. Adams added.

Soon, it became very obvious that Brent and his family were not alone. Support from the local community created feelings of optimism yet “realism,” according to Mrs. Adams.

“Our neighbors brought us food and sometimes helped my mom with dinner,” Brent said.

Not only did they help keep Brent and his family strong, but they also made generous donations, collecting up to $1,000. A church friend, Karen George, stepped up to help fund research for the rare disease.

“Our friend from church raised $40,000,” said Adams.

Brent and his family, grateful, and surprised at such a donation, donated all of it to The Histiocytosis Association of America, a non-profit organization that helps individuals suffering from LCH,
but also conducts research to one day cure the disease.

“I still don’t know how they did it!” Brent said.

Not allowing the constraints of LCH to keep him from enjoying life, Brent joined an organization that’s even difficult for people without
health conditions: Boy Scouts of America. In 2002, while still undergoing Chemotherapy, Brent began a program where he would one day fulfill one of his greatest achievements.

Then he was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2005. This was an especially hard blow for Brent because of the physical activities Boy Scouts required. Yet, instead of succumbing to the steep odds, Brent decided
to confront his problems and with the help of his scout minister, even surpass them.

“Since I could not swim because of my condition, I was able to do a 51-mile bike ride instead,” Brent said. “It was exhausting,” he added.

Finally, things began to fall into place. Dr. McClain decided to try something new.

“He used Brent’s old chemo medicine, but tried it in a new way,” said Mrs. Adams. “Three months later he started healing. We were just hoping he would get better, we never expected [those results].”

After eight years of chemotherapy and 11 surgeries, Adams went into remission for what will be eight years on Nov. 29. Brent became an “index case” for Histiocytosis, the first documented case of the
sickness and his case will be used by doctors and scientists to solve the mystery of LCH.

“So far only nine other individuals have gotten LCH since Brent, and it [the chemo] has only helped half,” Mrs. Adams said.

Looking back on all that her and her family went through, Brent’s mom understands how difficult it is to watch a loved one suffer from an illness.

“You can’t do anything but take things one day at a time, because you’ll go crazy thinking about all the ‘what ifs’.” Mrs. Adams said. “Just live for the moment.”

After only six years of service in the Boy Scouts Brent achieved something that only 4 percent of Scouts ever accomplish, an honor
only given to those that show personal ability and exceed expectations at every stage. On Dec. 9, 2008, Brent became an Eagle Scout, the
highest level of Boy Scouts.  Today, Brent plays the piano and is active in school, openly discussing all that he has overcome to anyone willing to listen. Brent especially excels in English.

“He’s a hard worker. He’s honest, responsible, and very conscientious,” senior English teacher Ms. Mabry said.

Although LCH created other health illnesses for Brent Adams, one being Diabetes Insipidus, he refuses to let it stop him from living.

“I never remember him saying ‘why me’," Mrs. Adams said. “He’s just always been so funny and upbeat. I don’t know how he did it, but he
lifted us.”