Pierce family fundraiser Thursday
In 2004 Alexis Serna, the freshman kicker for Oregon State University football team, missed three point-after-touchdown attempts and his team lost to the defending national champions by a point. Serna’s frustration and disappointment was witnessed by sports fans across the country.
Austan Pierce wrote him a note telling him not to be discouraged, keep trying, things will get better.
Pierce, then 12, wrote the note with the help of his doctor. At the time he was undergoing cancer treatment at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.
Since that time, Serna and Pierce have become close friends. Serna was so moved by his words of encouragement that he wrote an “A” on his left thumb and a “P” on his right thumb before each game from then on, to remind him of Austan’s words.
Pierce, now a freshman at Ferris High School, was diagnosed in October 2003 with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare childhood bone cancer.
In the last three and a half years he’s endured 13 rounds of chemotherapy, 31 days of radiation, 24 blood transfusions, two pelvis replacements, a colon surgery and in December, one of his legs had to be amputated.
“He’s in remission,” said his mom Jonnelle Pierce. He’s amazing. He doesn’t complain. He has a strong faith and the support of family and friends.”
In December, Austan wrote a letter to the student body at Ferris. He told them about his medical history and about his upcoming amputation. He said it would be difficult, but knew he could make it with their support.
On his Web site, he posted this, “I want people to look at me as a normal kid. On the outside I may have one less leg, be in a wheelchair, or be on crutches sometimes, but on the inside I am the exact same Austan that left sixth grade due to cancer, only I am now older and a lot smarter. You can ask me all the questions that you would like about anything that I have been through, but please don’t treat me differently.”
Austan recently received the Teen Courage Award at the Chase Youth Awards.
“He loves being at school; especially since he had to miss so much school. He’s a good student and gets mostly As and a few Bs, said Jonnelle Pierce.
Jonnelle Pierce, who has taught elementary school in the Central Valley School District for 21 years, is taking this year off after teaching at Adams Elementary last school year.
She was able to take a year off two years ago thanks to other district employees’ donations of their own sick leave.
Thursday’s fundraiser, sponsored by Adams Elementary and the Parent Teacher Student Association would help offset the family’s medical expenses.