DETROIT (4/19/2013) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer team will add another newcomer to the team effective immediately as the Detroit Titans have partnered with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation to adopt 12-year-old Amber Madigan as part of the team.
Amber turned 12 on July 6, 2013 and has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Amber loves sports and especially soccer.
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation (FoJ) supports children with pediatric brain tumors by fighting to prolong the lives of these children and giving them the opportunity to live life to the fullest.
The UDM women's soccer team now has a commitment to Amber. The adoption is not just for a season or a few games - but for the life of the child.
The idea of having children with cancer being adopted by teams was started by Denis Murphy, the founder of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. In 2004, Murphy had a daughter Jaclyn, who was nine at the time, when she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. While in the hospital, Jaclyn had a picture of a woman's lacrosse player celebrating on the field hanging on the wall next to her bed. Word of Jaclyn's diagnosis eventually made its way to the Northwestern women's lacrosse coach Kelly Amonte Hiller and it was from that point on that Northwestern adopted the 10-year-old as an honorary team member. That adoption had such a positive effect on Jaclyn's happiness and health that Denis and his wife Lynda started the foundation.
The FoJ now has over 300 children who have been adopted by high school and college teams across the United States.
"It is an awesome opportunity to help somebody through what they are struggling with. It really puts everything into perspective for us," said sophomore defender
Victoria Sollestre.
For the Detroit women's soccer team, the relationship started the week of March 25 when Sollestre, Alyssa Riley, Jennifer Borawski, along with women's soccer head coach Mike Lupenec went out to dinner with Amber and her parents, Michele and Allen of Eastpointe. The rest of the team had the chance to meet Amber and her parents on April 5 this year when UDM hosted a scrimmage at Titan Field. All of the girls on the team received a FoJ t-shirt and took a team picture with Amber whose warm smile can be seen as she is seated in the front row right in the middle of the picture
"We went out to dinner with her and her parents and she was quiet at first but then she started to get comfortable and talk to us and even at our game you could see that she felt good about herself and about us being around her," said sophomore midfielder Riley.
When FoJ was looking for a team to match up with Amber, the foundation looked on her care page and there was nothing but soccer balls all over it making it obvious that soccer is her favorite sport. As a result, FoJ was determined to find a school that had soccer that could partner with Amber.
And the University of Detroit Mercy women's soccer team was discovered.
"What is great about the program is that she has a connection to these girls but I can see that as they grow, it is a connection with someone that can encourage her, like Big Sisters that can be there for her," explained Amber's mom Michele. "And it doesn't have to be cancer related and that's what I like about it."
Amber has a difficult road ahead but the UDM women's soccer team wants to help her through and help her feel part of the team and support her as she goes about her daily life.
"The other day she had a soccer game and we all texted her and we always try to send her encouraging messages before and after things that she is involved with," added Riley.
Amber first learned of a possible tumor when she was nearing the end of first grade. She eventually had a surgery two days after Christmas that year and spent time recuperating over the Christmas break. She was hopeful that she would be cancer free following the surgery.
Unfortunately, in Amber's case, the cancer came back and had metastasized to her spine. Metastatic cancer has the same name and the same type of cancer cells as the original, or primary, cancer. For example, breast cancer that spreads to the lung and forms a metastatic tumor is metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer.
She originally had two tumors on her spine. One was surgically removed but the other tumor remains. Doctors are hesitant to remove it because of its size and at the current time, the risks outweigh the benefits. Her parents are hoping the radiation treatment she is receiving will shrink the tumor and with the help of soccer and the Detroit Titans, Amber can have a support group there to help her through the process.
The idea of cancer is not something most 11-year-olds have to think about. For Amber, it is constantly on her mind because the cancer is still present and the outcome is uncertain. Michele hopes to have the Titans help ease the process.
At the same time, the Titans have a chance to make a difference and make an impact in the life of a young 11-year-old.
"I think a lot of times we forget how good we really have it being healthy and being able to participate as a Division I athlete and realize there are tougher battles out there that kids go through than us getting up in the morning or winning or losing soccer games," said Lupenec.
Michele first heard of FoJ through a friend in Lansing whose daughter was part of the program. Michele figured with Amber being very much into sports that FoJ could be something that was very beneficial for her but did not realize that Amber could become involved with a soccer team. That little bit extra was more than a pleasant surprise for Michele to discover.
"There are bigger things in life than just soccer. Amber is battling cancer and we're worried about placing a corner kick. There are two different values in life," said sophomore defender
Abbey Troy.
Cancer can be an emotional topic to discuss but Michele feels like it is a topic that is fought in numbers.
"Cancer is on the rise with children right now and there needs to be more awareness and people need to step forward and say we need to take care of this," said Michele.
Click
HERE to see a video on the Northwestern women's lacrosse team and Jaclyn.
Click
HERE for more information the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
