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TOP JOBS

Story By Ashlie Osburn
Staff Writer

Ten-year-old Mya Williams sat in a recliner tapping her lips with her finger, thinking about a response to the question of her favorite book. “Ramona’s World, by Beverly Cleary,” Mya said.

Her answer followed what appeared to be a brief contemplation of forgotten memories. Her eyes widening, and smile slowly straightening into a grin, it seemed as though some of those memories included time spent in the hospital.

On Jan. 7, 2005, Mya was diagnosed with Leukemia cancer. After her diagnosis, she endured more than two years of chemotherapy treatment at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.

Partnered with The American Cancer Society, Tyler’s annual Cattle Baron’s Gala committee members selected this spunky pediatric cancer survivor as this year’s Li’l Wrangler.

The Li’l Wrangler’s Roundup private party honors selected East Texas pediatric oncology patients and their families.

After roughly a quarter of childhood lost battling the disease, Mya is trying to catch up on life as an active child. She is currently taking gymnastics lessons, she said, fidgeting with a black and silver bracelet with her name engraved on it.

“I’m trying to work up to be a cheerleader,” Mya said as she made funny faces at her baby sister, Rylee, who suddenly toddled into the room.

Reluctant to speak easily of the past two years, faded memories of play time and craft making began to surface. She becomes more animated and talks about her sibling’s involvement in her recovery.

“My brother loved going. He liked to come up there with me and play games so I wouldn’t be there by myself,” Mya said.

For almost the first year of therapy, Mya had three-day treatments each month at Children’s Hospital in Dallas.

“She had two little boys she would play with,” Mrs. Hicks, Mya’s mother said. “They ran up and down the halls with their little IV stands. They were called the three amigos and the three musketeers.” Mya said her first grade teacher, Cheri Mahan of Athens, helped her considerably during difficult times of treatment.

“She took me to Quilts for Kids. She had them make a quilt, a comforter and pillows and put them in the corner of the room, and whenever I got tired, I went there to rest,” said Mya as she wrapped herself in the same patchwork quilt.

She said while she had treatments, Mrs. Mahan did everything she could to make her classmates feel comfortable with her changing appearance.

“She named her class the ‘Hat Brigade,’ so when Mya had to wear a hat, everyone wore one,” Mrs. Hicks said.

Gaining strength by the day, Mya seems to be focused on the simple joys of being a kid: playing outside with her brothers and sisters, concocting techniques to defeat levels on her video game systems and riding her bicycle with neighborhood friends.

She’s also looking toward the future.

“I want to be a doctor, a children’s doctor,” Mya said seeming to display a wisdom few us at that age could understand.

Her room exemplifies a classic girl’s room. Honor roll certificates and special crafts filled a box, waiting to be hung on the wall, pink and purple decorations adorned every piece of furniture.

Sitting on her bunk bed, along with an uncountable number of stuffed animals, she spoke of an average day after coming home from school.

“I usually sit in my chair and prop my feet up and watch TV,” Mya said.

After quickly demonstrating her fuzzy pink foldable chair, she excitedly looked at herself in the mirror after hearing the photographer had arrived.

With her glossy blonde that matched her bright innocent spirit, she gave thanks to those who helped make life easier during her treatment and recovery.

“Thanks a lot. I love you all and you’re the best,” she said.