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Pink Ribbons, Pink Soles: Benton athlete facing battle with cancer

BY JIM MUIR
THE SOUTHERN

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 6:52 AM CDT

BENTON - In the short span of time that it takes to do one back flip Brittani Shurtz's life changed forever.

Shurtz, a 15-year-old Benton High School freshman, can recall the exact date and time that dramatically altered her immediate plans from cheerleading competition and running track this spring to being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and monthly treks to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

"It was Feb. 28 and we were practicing for state competition in cheerleading," Brittani said. "I did a back flip and felt a pop in my upper leg. At first I thought I had just pulled a muscle but within a couple of days I couldn't lift my leg at all."

An MRI revealed a tumor on the bone, and within a matter of days Brittani was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma - a cancer that most often affects those between the ages of 10 and 20.

The most common sites for Ewing's sarcoma are the pelvis, the thigh, and the trunk of the body.

Brittani's mother, Michelle Shurtz, who lives in Mount Vernon and is an MRI technician, performed the test.

She noted that she read the results at 7 a.m. on a Saturday - a day that she was scheduled to work 12 hours with a constant stream of patients.

"I thought it must be a ligament strain or a muscle," Michelle said. "I saw the tumor immediately; I knew it was a mass of some kind. It was a Saturday and we couldn't even get her into see the doctor until Monday to find out what we were dealing with. It was the worst day of my life."

The diagnosis was made almost immediately that Brittani had Ewing's sarcoma - a diagnosis that changed the definition of the word 'normal' for countless people.

"I've read MRIs for people, strangers off the street, and seen immediately that they have a massive brain tumor. And I knew that in coming days they would be going to the doctor, that their life and their family's life is going to change," Michelle said. "I've never had to deal with that with somebody I know, but I know now. There are no words to describe how from one day to the next your entire world is turned upside down."

Michelle said doctors are giving the Benton teen a 70 percent chance for a complete recovery and added that in recent days Brittani has received two separate bits of good news when a full body scan showed no other signs of cancer and a bone scan also proved negative.

One of the greatest concerns about Ewing's sarcoma is that even when very small tumors are discovered, there is a possibility of a microscopic spread. For that reason, Ewing's sarcoma patients are always required to undergo chemotherapy treatments for the entire body.

Brittani underwent her first treatment two weeks ago and has returned to school. She described the past month as "a roller coaster" of emotions.

"Right now I'm having good days and bad days," she said. "Some days I feel great and other days I'm tired and just want to sleep. And I have happy moments, just like nothing is wrong, and then I have sad moments and the next thing you know I'll just start to cry."

During an interview this past weekend Brittani explained that she was going through the traumatizing experience of losing her hair due to the first chemo treatment. Showing the spunk that she will rely on during her treatment, Brittani explained that instead of crying over her lost hair, she braided the strands and adorned it with beads and made wrist bracelets for her and her friends.

Brittani will return to Houston next week for the second of her six chemotherapy treatments knowing this trip exactly what the treatment will entail. She said the first treatment "hit me like a ton" but is undeterred in trying to overcome her illness.

"I'm just going to try and stay strong and stay positive and in the end I'm going to try to kick its butt," she said.

Steve Shurtz, Brittani's dad, said he is "completely overwhelmed" by the show of support from area residents but said the emotionally draining month has left him unable to talk about his daughter's illness.

His wife, Eloise Shurtz, Brittani's stepmother, said everybody involved has had moments when emotions got the best of them and one of those moments for her came when a pair of hot pink track shoes arrived in the mail. She said Brittani and some of her friends ordered the shoes for the upcoming track season.

"When they arrived it just brought it all to mind and I looked at the shoes and I just lost it because I knew she couldn't use them this year and wondered if she would ever be able to run track again," Eloise said. "And her attitude was, 'hey, I might not be wearing them this year but I'll wear them next year for sure.' That says a lot about her character because she's got the mindset that when this is over she'll be fine."

Eloise Shurtz also talked about the transition from one competitive venue to another.

"One day you go from cheerleading and getting ready for track season to just wanting to live," she said. "In one day's time everybody's life changed and normal will never be normal again."

Rod Shurtz, the athletic director at Benton High School, labeled Brittani's illness as a "double dose" of bad news for him. Brittani is his niece so the diagnosis not only affects a student athlete under his direction; it also had an immense impact on his entire family.

"The athletic department has always tried to help in situations like this when a student is in an accident or hospitalized or had an illness," Rod Shurtz said. "You hope this never happens but inevitably it does, but this one really hit close to home. She's family and it has had a big impact on all of us."

Rod Shurtz said the support from the area has been tremendous.

"I want to go on record saying that we appreciate everybody's support, the financial support but especially with the prayers," he said.

Rod Shurtz said the diagnosis puts the sometimes over-importance of high school in perspective, but noting that his niece is an outstanding athlete he said he expects her and his entire family to call on their competitive nature to battle the tough foe Brittani is now facing.

"We know Brittani is facing a battle; she has six months of chemotherapy which is a battle in itself," Rod Shurtz said. "We want to win at the high school level in sports but that is nothing now when you have a situation like this. All that stuff is secondary now; we tend to put a lot of importance on wins and losses but all that is meaningless when you're faced with a life-threatening situation like this. We're going to help Brittani fight this any way we can but we understand also that this is in God's hands."

While pink ribbons have become internationally known as the symbol for survivors of breast cancer the determination and fight of young Brittani Shurtz might someday make hot pink track shoes the symbol for those who survived Ewing's sarcoma.

A fund has been established at the State Bank of Whittington to help the Shurtz family with medical costs. Contributions can be sent to the Brittani Shurtz Fund, State Bank of Whittington, 200 N. Main St., Benton, IL 62812.

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