Wednesdav. November 28,1979
University Daily Kansan
Support group helps cancer victims, families
By STEVEN KOPPES
Staff Reporter
KANSAS CITY, Kan.—After battling a rare type of bone cancer for more than three years, 17-year-old Eddie Kimball of Omaha died in August 1987.
Eddie was not the only member of his family to be affected by the disease, however.
Although only Eddie had to endure the physical pain, both he and his family had to cope with emotional stress.
Since 1923 the University of Kansas Medical Center has offered special help to cancer patients like Eddie and their families. The Center is a leader in Leukemia and Malignancies Society, an affiliate of the Candlelighters, a national organization of parent self-help groups for cancer patients.
Karen Briscoe, coordinator of PALMS,
said that when the program was started,
it was the only one in this part of the
country. Now most long-term hospitals have
PALMS SERVES all of Kansas and parts of Missouri and Nebraska. It has about 300 members.
"It started with 12 parents at the Med Center who felt they needed each other's support," Briscoe said. "It's very difficult to cope with the daily stresses. When you deal with the problem of losing loved ones, your other things can become overwhelming."
Long-time members of PALMS are sometimes able to help the newer members.
"They're aware of the little things that are helpful," Briscoe said. "They know where to look and where to wait when a child is in remission. It may be hard for others to see that anything is there."
Such problems are familiar to many American families. Cancer will affect 90 percent of children under six year, and 2,500 of them will die from it. There is no other disease that will kill them.
NEVERTHELESS, there is hope.
"I've had the benefit of seeing progress. Not all children with cancer die," Briscoe said. "More are living now, and more are living longer."
Most young cancer victims are told the truth about their disease, although that was not common practice several years ago.
"If you let the children know everything they can put things in perspective, too. There is much less depression, much less anxiety," she said.
Eddie Kimball's mother, Betty, agrees with that philosonhy.
"The only way you can really deal with kids is to be honest. Eddie felt that what he did know he was better able to handle." she said.
Eddie was vice president of Youth Sports Medicine at the University of cancer victims that is a branch of PALMS. Two months before his death, he attended the first national convention of young cancer survivors.
"Our son was pleased to have us in PALMS," said Mrs. Kimbath. "When we were first at the Med Center I sat on one of the meetings and saw that other children were there with their children, Just being able to share the everyday really helps."
PALMNSAME implicate special participation from parents, but the whole family is involved. Joy, a mother, Joy, and a brother, Kevin. They were 4 and 13 years old when Eddie's cancer diagnosis came.
"They knew what was going on with Eddie." Mrs. Kimball said.
Mrs. Kimball and her husband, Marlin, are organizing a PALMS in the Ottawa area.
KAREN AND David Falls of Oalbe also are members of PALMS. Their 9-year-old son, Todd, suffers from a condition which was discovered last February.
Mrs. Falls said that PALMS provided a place for children who were cancer injured or in the hospital and played therapist plans plans and other activities to make the children's 'stay at' school safe.
Because Todd must go the Med Center for intravenous chemotherapy every six weeks, this has been important to the Falls.
"Todd is there for only five days, but that can be a long and boring and depressing five days." Mrs. Fails said.
PALMS provides more than moral support, though. The group purchased a microwave oven and a refrigerator for the staff. They stay at the hospital, often overnight.
"They provide beds for parents, especially parents of newly diagnosed children. They encourage you to stay home and become more comfortable," Mrs. Falls said.
Concerned individuals, as well as the families of cancer victims, can join PALMS. More information can be obtained at KU MED Center's pediatrics department.
Both Cook and Schwemmer said their stores did their own mounting of bindings and repair work, and neither dealt with use equipment or trade-uses.
CHAD HEADERLY, coordinator of the Student Union Activities' ski trip to Breckendike, Cole, said SUA rent all of its equipment from equipment facilities near the
"I think definitely our sales are going to pick up after it snows here and after the Olympics," Susan Schwenker, manager of WBC 12th, BWF 20th, St. said yesterday.
Allen Cook, a salesman at Sunflower Mall in Atlanta, expected sales to increase, possibly because of the Olympics, but also because skiing, cross country in particular, was gaining in popularity.
At First Serve, Schwemmer said, a quality cross-country ski package could be purchased for $10. The same package could be rented from First Serve for $9 a day.
"People can bring their own equipment, but it's easier and cheaper to rent the equipment out there for those who don't own any," he said.
'Olympics might be a factor,' he said.
'But also people are generally keeping up
"It's not the cheapest, but we take the time to fit everything," she said.
Predictions of heavy snowfalls, the possibility of an energy crunch and the 1990 Winter Olympics in February, have led to a major anticipation of a bloom in ski equipment sales.
First Serve's major sales are down... equipment, not cross-country equipment, Schwenker said. She added that November sales were up by 20%, before the snow fall and prices went up.
should look according to their budget, needs and experience." Cook said.
Increased ski sales, rentals predicted locally
Cook said that local dealers in widely skid area, such as Colorado, could rent and sell equipment in lower prices because the equipment could be purchased in mass quantities.
A total downhill ski package can be purchased at First Serve for $450, she said. This would be "top of the line" equipment could be rented for $3 per day, she said.
lemon tree
Sunflower deals only in cross-country skiing equipment. Cook said that they rented and sold equipment, but that renting was far more popular.
11 W. 9th behind Weavers
with winter sports. It's something to do, and
it's an alternative exercise. It's like bicycling be more popular because of the gas shortcase."
This, he said, was because many people were inexperienced and did not want to invest in an expensive skillet package.
COOK SAID AN entire ski package could be purchased from Sunrise for $100 to $125-boats, skis, bindings and poles. The package was rented for $1 per day at sunrise, but he paid.
'When people are looking for skis, they
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