Gift tree brightens holidays for young cancer patient
Berl Tiskus
Cole Whitworth hold “Fox in Sox,” one of his favorite Dr. Seuss books, in front of a Dr. Seuss-themed Christmas tree, a gift to Cole and his family from First Interstate Bank.
Berl Tiskus
Cole Whitworth, 6, plays with a tiny car in front of the Christmas tree. Cole is undergoing treatment for medullablastoma, a brain tumor affecting mainly children, and First Interstate Bank staff thought the tree would cheer him up.
Berl Tiskus
Berl Tiskus
The cat in the hat, a character from a Dr. Seuss book, tells time on a Christmas tree. First Interstate Bank gave the tree to Cole Whitworth and his family.
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POLSON — It’s truly “home for the holidays” for Cole Jene Whitworth.
The kindergartner, 6, missing his front teeth and with an infectious grin, has been at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Wash., finishing up a course of radiation.
Cole was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain tumor, in September, said Cale Whitworth, Cole’s dad, after his family notice Cole “was really wobbly and not himself.”
Now Cole’s on break, at home to enjoy Christmas and family, until he returns to the hospital on Jan. 7 to begin another round of chemotherapy, “the big guns,” according to Cecile Whitworth, Cole’s mom.
As a holiday gift for Cole and his family,
First Interstate Bank delivered a fully-decorated, Dr. Seuss-themed Christmas tree, including a box of Dr. Seuss books and DVDs. The bank bought the tree at the Festival of Trees, which supports the Lake County Youth Home. Bank staff thought Cole might enjoy the whimsical tree, decorated by Robin Wallace and Tami Sanderson from Trails West Real Estate.
As Cole scampers around his living room, he behaves like a typical shy kindergartner, playing and looking at books, only his shiny bald head and the fact that he tires easily hinting at his serious illness.
Being home for Christmas means seeing family, including siblings Alyssa, 16, and brother Kadence, 11, and cousins, aunts and uncles.
Cole’s also returning to Jackie Peterson’s kindergarten class at Cherry Valley Elementary Schools for partial days.
Cecile said, “He’s just glad to be back to school and wants to see his buddies.”
Both Cecile and Cale accompanied Cole to Spokane, with an auntie staying with Alyssa and Kadence. The family would come home on weekends, but it’s been tough since it’s impossible to work.
“He’s already beat the worst part (surgery to remove the tumor),” Cale said, and now strong chemo and radiation will prevent its return.
There’s lots of down time, Cecile said, since Cole receives chemotherapy drugs intravenously, which takes about six to eight hours. Then it’s outpatient care for Cole, with Cecile and Cale caring for the little boy, since the chemo cocktail makes him sick.
Cecile said the family will be staying at the Ronald McDonald house in Spokane, and she and Cale will be taking turns staying with Cole.
An account has been set up at First Interstate Bank for Cole, and donations would help with expenses.
