2008 Woodie Awards
Dancer hopes for comeback
Zhi Xiong - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Metro
Inside Room 32 of the pediatric inpatient unit, 6-year-old Simeon Smith was enjoying mother Kari Smith's company.
After four months at home in Iowa City, Simeon contracted a severe cold from his younger siblings. This led to a viral infection that commonly causes pneumonia, and high fevers landed him in the hospital for antibiotics and an IV drip.
He is now in isolation for at least three days. That means no leaving his room at all - no talking to his friends and no visitors who are not armed with mask, gloves, and gown.
Diagnosed with two types of childhood leukemia in September 2006, even a minor infection causes Simeon's white blood cell count to plunge.
"Can I ride a bike if I drink the whole thing?" he asked his mother, slurping from an enormous cup of root beer.
No, and a nurse confirmed as much when she came to check his fluid levels. She called him "Buckwheat," the color of his hair, which had grown back thick and blond.
The only sign of illness in the room packed with Star Wars memorabilia is a tube snaking up to a bag of fluid dangling from a tall pole - his "leash," Kari Smith said. To scare the nurses, he had his father wind a stuffed toy snake across the top of the pole.
"Until it happens to you, you can't possibly know what it's like," said father Johann Smith, an accountant.
In the next few days, Simeon had a port implanted under his skin, a channel between his body and the outside world where tubes, needles, drugs, and fluids go in and out.
Meanwhile, his family spent hours being briefed on his illness.
"They told us everything that could go wrong," Johann Smith said.
Simeon spent 12 months undergoing intensive weekly chemotherapy. Spinal taps, steroids, and morphine became staples of his vocabulary. Now, he continues low-dose chemo at home along with a cocktail of other drugs.
Though his hospital room is stocked with toys, Simeon would rather be playing sports. He is not allowed to play football, but he is active in soccer, baseball, swimming, and basketball.
Athleticism, not just cancerous cells, is in his blood.
Both his parents played sports, and his father has coached Babe Ruth baseball in Iowa City for years. Though illness has leached his stamina and strength, Simeon wondered if his father will be his coach when he is 13 years old.
His mother's shift ended at around 6:30 p.m. so she could spend time with Simeon's sister, Correin, who had been asking for her mother lately. Johann Smith will spend another night sleeping in a pullout armchair in the corner.
The family is now accustomed to the switch-offs and sudden changes of plans.
"It means dropping everything and rearranging your life," Kari Smith said.
Simeon, who picked at his hot dog and nachos, got more company when two brothers from the Delta Sigma Pi fraternity showed up for volunteer night - Dance Marathon and other organizations often send volunteers. While the three gathered around the bed for a game of Clue, his father watched the Florida elections proceed.
Johann Smith said Simeon understands his illness well. They couldn't figure out how much he understood until he began responding and explaining everything to people.
"It's fun for doctors to come talk to him and see how he responds," he said. "They ask, 'He's how old?' "
If he is fever-free for 24 hours, Simeon will get to dance this Friday, his second year participating in Dance Marathon. He is allowed stay up all night.
E-mail DI reporter Zhi Xiong at:
zhi-xiong@uiowa.edu
Simeon Smith
Age: 6
Lives in: Iowa City
Diagnosed with: Biphenotypic leukemia
Best buddy: 17-year-old Becky, who is also in the hospital
Sports played: Soccer, basketball, baseball, swimming
Favorite show: "Animal Planet"
After four months at home in Iowa City, Simeon contracted a severe cold from his younger siblings. This led to a viral infection that commonly causes pneumonia, and high fevers landed him in the hospital for antibiotics and an IV drip.
He is now in isolation for at least three days. That means no leaving his room at all - no talking to his friends and no visitors who are not armed with mask, gloves, and gown.
Diagnosed with two types of childhood leukemia in September 2006, even a minor infection causes Simeon's white blood cell count to plunge.
"Can I ride a bike if I drink the whole thing?" he asked his mother, slurping from an enormous cup of root beer.
No, and a nurse confirmed as much when she came to check his fluid levels. She called him "Buckwheat," the color of his hair, which had grown back thick and blond.
The only sign of illness in the room packed with Star Wars memorabilia is a tube snaking up to a bag of fluid dangling from a tall pole - his "leash," Kari Smith said. To scare the nurses, he had his father wind a stuffed toy snake across the top of the pole.
"Until it happens to you, you can't possibly know what it's like," said father Johann Smith, an accountant.
In the next few days, Simeon had a port implanted under his skin, a channel between his body and the outside world where tubes, needles, drugs, and fluids go in and out.
Meanwhile, his family spent hours being briefed on his illness.
"They told us everything that could go wrong," Johann Smith said.
Simeon spent 12 months undergoing intensive weekly chemotherapy. Spinal taps, steroids, and morphine became staples of his vocabulary. Now, he continues low-dose chemo at home along with a cocktail of other drugs.
Though his hospital room is stocked with toys, Simeon would rather be playing sports. He is not allowed to play football, but he is active in soccer, baseball, swimming, and basketball.
Athleticism, not just cancerous cells, is in his blood.
Both his parents played sports, and his father has coached Babe Ruth baseball in Iowa City for years. Though illness has leached his stamina and strength, Simeon wondered if his father will be his coach when he is 13 years old.
His mother's shift ended at around 6:30 p.m. so she could spend time with Simeon's sister, Correin, who had been asking for her mother lately. Johann Smith will spend another night sleeping in a pullout armchair in the corner.
The family is now accustomed to the switch-offs and sudden changes of plans.
"It means dropping everything and rearranging your life," Kari Smith said.
Simeon, who picked at his hot dog and nachos, got more company when two brothers from the Delta Sigma Pi fraternity showed up for volunteer night - Dance Marathon and other organizations often send volunteers. While the three gathered around the bed for a game of Clue, his father watched the Florida elections proceed.
Johann Smith said Simeon understands his illness well. They couldn't figure out how much he understood until he began responding and explaining everything to people.
"It's fun for doctors to come talk to him and see how he responds," he said. "They ask, 'He's how old?' "
If he is fever-free for 24 hours, Simeon will get to dance this Friday, his second year participating in Dance Marathon. He is allowed stay up all night.
E-mail DI reporter Zhi Xiong at:
zhi-xiong@uiowa.edu
Simeon Smith
Age: 6
Lives in: Iowa City
Diagnosed with: Biphenotypic leukemia
Best buddy: 17-year-old Becky, who is also in the hospital
Sports played: Soccer, basketball, baseball, swimming
Favorite show: "Animal Planet"
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Sherrie Travis
posted 1/30/08 @ 10:17 PM CST
Thank you, Zhi, for writing about Simeon Smith and his family. They have met great challenges with patience, hope, and a whole lot of love. Wishing them all the best as Simeon continues to recover and grow stronger. (Continued…)
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