EDITOR’S NOTE: The Cancer Telethon begins today and continues Sunday, live from Penn’s Peak. A highlight is the Courage award presentations to people who have inspired others through their battle. See Page 6 for more recipients and telethon details.

By Jarrad Hedes

jmhedes@tnonline.com

Over the course of two-and-a-half years, 7-year-old McCoy Rapa underwent chemotherapy more than 50 times to help combat her high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia,

Despite the nerves that any child would naturally have facing such a challenge, she never thought about herself. Instead, she tried to calm others who were going through a similar battle.

“When we’re at a clinic, she’ll see another child that is maybe going in for a procedure or getting their blood drawn or whatever it may be, and she’ll just whisper, be brave,” Laura Schiffer-Rapa, McCoy’s mother, said. “I just think that’s one of her ways of showing courage and giving that same courage to others.”

McCoy, of Schnecksville, will be honored this weekend as a “Courage Award” recipient during the 2022 Tamaqua-Carbon American Cancer Society telethon at Penn’s Peak.

At 4 years old, McCoy presented with cold symptoms and a low-grade fever. As symptoms continued, blood work showed something more serious needed to be addressed.

“The doctor actually called us at 3 a.m. and said you need to get her to the emergency room,” Schiffer-Rapa said. “When we heard leukemia, you just hit your knees. It was the scariest moment of my life. It shook our family to the core.”

The first year of McCoy’s treatment was intense. She received weekly treatment at an outpatient clinic before reaching the maintenance phase of her treatment.

She then received chemotherapy at home in lower doses, got blood work at the hospital every other week, and received an intravenous chemotherapy treatment once per month, also at the hospital. Throughout it all, McCoy kept an attitude of doing whatever she needed to do to keep fighting.

“McCoy just ended treatment on her 7th birthday, March 19,” Schiffer-Rapa said. “We had a big celebration and it was a huge milestone for her. The future and what is ahead of us is still pretty uncertain. We obviously are worried about the possibility of relapse and worried about the side effects of her treatment.”

After her last chemotherapy treatment, McCoy picked up a virus that landed her in the hospital for a few days due to an already com promised immune system. The setback painted a picture of how touch-and-go the future could be.

“I think that’s just the reality of the situation,” Schiffer-Rapa said. “Although we celebrated the end of her treatment, this is sort of a lifelong diagnosis. I think that has been a big adjustment for us as a family, trying to get back to our new normal, but still having those daily reminders that we’re forever changed by the journey.”

Before her diagnosis, McCoy was the typical 4-year-old full of sass and questions. She loves princesses and horses and, according to her mother, especially princesses who have horses.

“She was thrilled when Elsa received a horse in ‘Frozen 2’ because a reindeer just wasn’t cutting it,” Schiffer-Rapa said during a speech for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley Hearts of Gold UN-Gala in 2020. “She danced and hugged aggressively that you know she meant it.”

Things changed, however, and McCoy became afraid of human touch from anyone other than her parents. She gained weight, then lost weight. She lost her hair and the ability to walk up stairs and run to her playset.

“So many things that people take for granted, she fought for every day,” Schiffer-Rapa said. “I will not diminish the disease’s sheer destructive power, but I have learned there is much beauty in this journey. Sometimes your darkest hours coincide with your brightest moments.”

Cancer telethon representatives told Schiffer-Rapa that McCoy’s story and seeing a young child face her journey with such tenacity has been an inspiration to many.

“She always rises to the challenge and never makes excuses,” Schiffer-Rapa said. “McCoy has shown us that you can make the best out of every day. We’re just so honored that McCoy’s being recognized because we are so proud of her. She’s remained positive and cancer hasn’t changed her really amazing personality and her outlook on life. It’s great to be able to share her with the cancer community and hopefully give a message of hope that, despite the harshness of a cancer diagnosis, there can be some beauty along the journey.”