by Dan Ryan, Bethune-Cookman Department of Athletics


What's the thing Summer Brown wants you to know she's feeling the most in this early going of her battling stage 4 lymphoma cancer?

Nausea? A little, but whatever else is in the IV has so far kept her from full-out puking. Tired? Somewhat, but chemotherapy does that to everyone, even former conference long jump and pentathlon champions. The possibility of her hair falling out?

There's a tinge of anxiety about that, but there are other priorities for now.

So, what does the former Bethune-Cookman track star feel the most?

Us.

Ever since her instagram video and that amazing graphic going viral on social media both blindsided and invoked the worst of fears, the Wildcat family and nation has mobilized with overwhelmingly love and concern. Brown's been in contact with head coach Donald Cooper, several of her former teammates, many of the present track team  and "even the newbies" she smiles.

Those prayers and thoughts, even the ones from Florida A&M folks? They're working.

"My soul warmed up when I saw [the social media response]," Brown said late Monday from her room in the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Ariz. "I can actually feel the prayers, the support. I love that. I'm in good spirits because of that."

This whole mess has been going on for over a year. The excruciating pain in her left thigh was first thought to be a charley horse, then it was sciatica, then Iliotibial band (IT band) syndrome or even a tendon strain. Every time she was sent home.

Two days after Christmas, Brown couldn't even walk. Malik Lewis, another former Wildcat track star and father of their two-year old, Aycen, drove her to the ER..again. They did the Xrays and MRIs.

"Boom," Brown said, actually laughing.

"I found out there's a tumor in my leg that's been growing this whole time," Brown said. "Yeah, it's crazy."

There wasn't time for sadness or even anger over how the heck this could have been so misdiagnosed for so long.

"We're going around in complete 360s," Brown said. "We didn't have any time to dwell, we had to make decisions."

Tuesday [January 8] was day five of chemotherapy as well as physical therapy to get more mobility back out of the leg.  Wednesday should see her going back home and beginning four months of outpatient treatment.

Even though the tumor's been growing for a year, the cancer, normally rapid growing, has stayed localized in her leg. "Actually, a blessing," Brown said. However, this is still a critical juncture in keeping the cancer from spreading to the kidneys and other internal organs.

While "Stage 4" sounds extremely scary, it's an automatic designation for when the cancer has spread outside the lymphatic system and originated internally. Brown wanted to reiterate that, and that she's in good condition.

She notes she still "has youth in her favor" and while she's a little removed from the body that won her the long jump at the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor championship and the 2014 indoor pentathlon, she's in good physical shape.

"I'm very positive, very high," Brown said.
 
Even Cooper is amazed at her approach.

"After speaking with her my heart felt relief. I don't know why her attitude towards this surprised me, as she is one of the ultimate troopers," Cooper said. "I love the way she is approaching this.  It speaks volumes about the type of person she has always been."

And Brown knows we're going to be there as well.
 
"So proud to be a part," Brown said. "Always a Wildcat."