Norton girl state finalist for national service award
Thursday, February 16, 2006
NORTON - Caitlin Adkins of Norton knows what she's talking about when it comes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, and not just because she is a volunteer spokesperson for the internationally renowned medical facility.
Now a 12-year-old sixth-grader at L.F. Addington Middle School in Wise, Caitlin was diagnosed with bone cancer when she was 8. She spent a year receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatments as well as a number of surgeries at St. Jude, and considers herself a "walking miracle" because of the care she received there.
The hospital asked her to share her story and help raise funds and awareness on behalf of St. Jude, and because of that, Caitlin is now one of two youngsters in Virginia chosen for national community service honors.
The Prudential Spirit of Community honor goes to middle level and high school students, with two chosen in each state, for outstanding volunteer service to their communities. Created in 1995 by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Spirit of Community awards has honored more than 70,000 young people at the local, state and national levels over the past 11 years.
Caitlin is featured in St. Jude's literature, posters and videos, and has appeared on behalf of the hospital in national magazines and on network television. She helps represent the hospital at national fund-raising events and helps organize local events such as silent auctions. Caitlin knits scarves for those silent auction, a craft she picked up at St. Jude when receiving her own treatment.
"They gave me back my life, and I will never do enough to repay what they did to me," Caitlin said on a Prudential awards Web site. "I want all children diagnosed with cancer to be as lucky as I have been."
Caitlin is the daughter of Marty and Marybeth Adkins. Caitlin's mother said it's good to have a celebrity in the family, particularly when the celebrity isn't really about her daughter. It's about hope.
"My husband and I are just very, very proud of the fact she is grateful to St. Jude and all of the people of Wise County who prayed for her during that time. What she's been doing is just her way of giving back. I think our story gives other families hope because nothing ever prepares you for being told your child has cancer, and our story of hope is for families just beginning this process," Marybeth said.
She said her daughter's cancer has been in remission since 2002. Caitlin is in the school band, plays piano, and romps into activities like softball, gymnastics and soccer.
"If you'd ever seen a picture of her in People magazine when she was bald, and to look at her now you can't ever tell she had been sick. And that's because of St. Jude and the prayers," Marybeth said.
Caitlin has proven to be a natural at the spokesperson biz, because when she was interviewed by Katie Couric on the "Today" show last December, her mother said her daughter "gave Katie an earful."
On Wednesday, Caitlin said the toughest part of her illness was "when I had no immunity and couldn't see my friends." Her two best pals are Kaitlyn Ponish and Haley Phelps, by the way.
Caitlin said being on the "Today" show was "awesome."
"I got to meet Katie Couric and everything," she said. "She is actually really, really nice. She took us up and let us see her office and everything."
Doing her bit for St. Jude is the least she can do after what the hospital's medical staff did for her, Caitlin said.
"I'm just happy it's raising awareness about St. Jude," she said.
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