Antelope Hunt Gives New Life To Cancer Patient
LODI NEWS - SENTINAL
By: Danielle MacMurchy - San Joaquin News Service
Saturday September 8th, 2007
Sammy McDonald sat among camouflaged clothes,
gun cases and ammunition in her family's living room Tuesday
afternoon while she animatedly told stories of hunting trips and
packed for yet another adventure.
The prize from her favorite hunting trip hangs on the living
room wall: a double-bearded tom turkey.
Sammy, 14, says she's found confidence and excitement in the
sport after cancer in her femur made most physical activities a
challenge. She will tote her new gun, a 7mm-08 rifle, into the
Arizona desert this week on a four-day antelope hunt.
Sammy will also hold an antelope tag, a ticket to shoot and kill
a single antelope.
The heavily sought-after tag was donated to Arizona Hunt of a
Lifetime by Dori Hopp of Oregon, who was unable to use it
because of time conflicts with her job. Arizona Hunt of a
Lifetime is a nonprofit organization that grants hunting and
fishing adventures to children like Sammy, who have
life-threatening illnesses.
To find out more about Arizona Hunt of a Lifetime, visit
http://www.hoalarizona.org .
Doctors at University of San Francisco diagnosed Sammy with
cancer in her left femur at age 10. Until then, she had never
imagined a sore left leg would be the start of a four-year
battle with cancer.
"I saw my parents' reaction when the doctors told them and
thought 'OK, this isn't good,'" Sammy said. "I was really
scared."
The cancer crept to her left lung twice, and each time the
infected area was surgically removed. Eight months' worth of
chemotherapy fought the cancer in her leg.The treatments slowly
drained Sammy's energy and caused her wavy, brown hair to thin.
But the upbeat, witty teenager made the best of her bare head
and covered it with fake tattoos.
Doctors eventually replaced Sammy's infected bone with a
titanium rod, which extends from her upper thigh to below her
kneecap. Tests from her doctors have come back showing no sign
of cancer for the past eight months.
"Right now, we're sitting pretty good," said Lisa McDonald,
Sammy's mother. Still, the illness left the West High School
freshman unable to run or play most sports. Then, three years
ago, John McDonald handed his daughter a gun with the idea that
a passion for hunting might ignite fresh enthusiasm in Sammy.
"It's cool to do something that most girls my age don't do,"
said Sammy, who has hunted pheasant, quail and deer in Calaveras
County and Oregon. "Even if I don't get one, it's just cool to
be outside and see the animals."
Sammy and her father have made frequent trips to the shooting
range in Manteca during the past month to perfect their shots
before the trip to Arizona. Sammy also helps her mother walk
their dogs to keep her legs conditioned for hunting.
"Hunting has helped her overcome her fear of anything," Lisa
McDonald said. "She's got to get out there and do something she
can be proud of."
Contact reporter Danielle MacMurchy at danielle@tracypress.com.
