14 June 20 • 2019
jn

through breath.
“When these children teach, they 
bring light to the world,
” he said, which 
speaks to the Jewish value of finding 
light amid darkness. 

CHILDREN AS TEACHERS
Aletha McKay, mother of 12-year-
old Grace, said her daughter and her 
siblings, Danielle, 13, and Faith, 5, 
have all benefitted from the program. 
Grace was diagnosed with T cell 
lymphoblastic leukemia when she 
was 7. McKay said she was unpre-
pared when she saw the X-ray that 
showed a mass so large on Grace’
s 
left side that it was beginning to 
block her carotid artery.
“That was a huge blow,” said the 
Farmington resident. “Nothing pre-
pares you to hear that news and to 
see that X-ray.”
McKay said her daughter at 7 was 
already involved in martial arts and 
was enthusiastic about her classes. 
Though Grace was hesitant at first 
to get involved with Kids Kicking 
Cancer at Children’
s Hospital of 
Michigan due to her depression over 
her illness, once she made friends, 
she wholeheartedly took to the pro-
gram.
“One of the huge things that KKC 
focuses on is breathing and self-con-
trol,” McKay said. “Pain is a message 
you don’
t have to listen to. Even get-
ting chemotherapy port access was 
a big deal (for Grace). She learned 
how to breathe and to do a body 
scan. 
It was a much smoother visit 
to the clinic once Grace joined Kids 
Kicking Cancer.”
Today, Grace has no cancer pres-
ent in her body, according to her 
medical scans. 
And now that all three of her 
daughters are involved in KKC, 
McKay finds them reminding her to 
breathe during stressful times.

“There are times that I will get 
frustrated by things and one of the 
kids will say, ‘
Mom, are you doing 
your power breathing?’
” she said 
with a laugh.

PAIN BECOMES INSPIRATION
Michael Hunt, a martial arts therapist 
with Kids Kicking Cancer, says he has 
been involved with the program from 
almost day one. Hunt was 9 years old 
in 1997 when he was diagnosed with 
rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer that can 
affect soft tissue, such as muscle, con-
nective tissue, such as tendons or carti-
lage, or bone. Hunt’
s cancer manifested 
itself as a grapefruit-sized tumor on his 
left side. 
Tumor removal required surgery 
that also removed four of his ribs. 
Hunt also underwent chemothera-
py and radiation. He is cancer-free 
today but still lives with residual side 
effects. 
As a therapist, he teaches children 
who are now in the same place that he 
was in as a child. He adds that every 
needle stick he had to undergo and all 
the pain he felt were worth it if he can 
help alleviate another child’
s fear, anxi-
ety and pain.
“I see a little bit of myself in all of 
them,
” he said. “I’
m able to share my 
experience with them. It is my hope 
that we continue to expand and help 
more kids to ease their pain.
” ■

To learn more about Kids Kicking Cancer or to 

make a donation, call (248) 864-8238.

jews d
in 
the

Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, also known as 

Rabbi G

continued from page 12
FRANKEL JEWISH ACADEMY

Introducing 

FRANKEL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP

Eligible students should be exceptional leaders in 
academics, athletics, arts, community service or in the 
Jewish community. All students new to FJA in 
2019-2020 will be considered. 

$20,000 PER YEAR 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 1, 2019 

Apply online www.frankelja.org/scholarship

Questions? 
Contact Arielle Endelman, Director of Admissions 
aendelman@frankelja.org


Kids Kicking Cancer has presented its programs at various health and cultural orga-
nizations in Metro Detroit, including running a program this year at the Barbara Ann 
Karmanos Cancer Institute’
s Weisberg Cancer Treatment Center in Farmington Hills. 
Instructors from Kids Kicking Cancer will be at a special summer camp from 10 
a.m.-2 p.m. on June 21 and 28; July 19 and 26; and Aug. 16 and 23.
Though Karmanos treats adults with cancer, children whose loved ones are being 
treated at the institute can learn through Kids Kicking Cancer to help their parents, 
grandparents and other loved ones to allay their emotions as they face illness.
For info, call Kathleen Hardy at (248) 538-4712 or email hardyk@karmanos.org.

