Fox 4: Family of toddler fighting cancer overjoyed by support from Lee’s Summit football team

By Sean McDowell

The arrival of October means high school football games begin to get serious.

The sense of urgency to help the family of a sick child is even stronger at Lee's Summit High School.

Their Friday night battle against neighboring rival Lee's Summit North was played as part of Siege for the Cure, an effort organized by the Tiger Football program, to help local families of life-threatening illnesses.

Step inside a waiting room at Children's Mercy, and you'll meet a blonde-haired beauty that will melt anyone's heart.

Oncologists at Children's Mercy say little Stella, who is only 22 months old, is in remission, having endured surgery to remove a baseball-sized brain tumor in July.

She's still receiving chemotherapy through a port in her chest, in addition to regular MRIs, which according to Ashley, show no sign of cancer in the toddler.

The Henrys said they never expected a streak of Tigers would swoop in to assist them. When the mother of one of Lee's Summit High's football players mentioned the Henrys, Tiger coaches named her this year's recipient of Siege the Cure.

Lee's Summit, along with Ray-Pec, Liberty and Lee's Summit North high schools, have spent the past few seasons generating support and money for families facing horrific illnesses.

On Friday, Tiger players wore special pink jerseys that showed the names of 115 local people with various forms of cancer, including one for Miss Stella.

Read the full story via Fox 4

Learn more about Pediatric Oncology at Children's Mercy