Steve was diagnosed with Scleroderma in June 2002, after having symptoms for about seven months.  We were fortunate that he was diagnosed so quickly, however the doctor that gave us the diagnosis also gave us a very grim prognosis.  He felt Steve had a rapidly progressing form of the disease and that his lung function would deteriorate quickly. I remember asking the doctor what exactly scleroderma was – he handed me a pamphlet and told me to look it up on the internet.  Needless to say, this was not a very good experience and Steve refused to go back to this particular doctor.  Dr. Sauls, who had done a lung biopsy on Steve, advised us to “go to the place that has the most knowledge about this disease”.  I started looking on the internet and found Dr. Fredrick Wigley at the Scleroderma Center at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute. 

When the first Warriors tournament was held in August of 2002, we had not yet been to the Scleroderma Center and were trying to cope with Steve having a chronic illness that we knew very little about.  He struggled to keep a positive attitude and you cannot know how much it helped his outlook to see what people were willing to do for him.  The month after the tournament we were able to travel to Baltimore and visit with Dr. Wigley who is the head of the Scleroderma Center.  He explained to us in plain English what scleroderma was and gave Steve a treatment plan to control his symptoms.  He also advised Steve to follow a well balanced diet, get moderate exercise and plenty of rest.  Steve has followed the doctor’s orders and has maintained a steady lung function for the past five years.  He continues to visit the doctor every 6 to 12 months. 

Steve enjoys helping with the Warriors Tournament every year. He hopes that everyone involved in organizing and working the tournament understands exactly how much their effort helped him to get through a very tough time and that the tournament can keep on helping others well into the future.

Justin Crane was diagnosed June 27, 2003 with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) just one month after graduating from Pioneer High School.

It was recommended by his family doctor (Dr. John Ronck) that he be transferred to the OU Medical Center/Children’s Hospital to begin treatment immediately.  This type of leukemia is considered to be a “childhood cancer” until one reaches the age of 23.   Childhood cancers are not treated in Enid.

Early symptoms were extreme fatigue, swollen lymph glands, and red dots on his legs which we later learned was petechiae.   These signs were originally thought to be allergies, since he was working in wheat harvest at the time of his illness.

After two years of intense chemotherapy, asparaginase shots, and radiation therapy, we are happy to report that he no longer takes any medication for this illness.  He still has to go yearly to the OU Medical Center/Jimmy Everst Center for checkups.

Now 23 years old, Justin attends Oklahoma State University pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. 

Words cannot express our gratitude to the Warriors Softball Team and community for their support and prayers during a very difficult time. 

Hope's Motto:

As long as Hope has hope, Hope will be just fine!!!

Hope was diagnosed with Acute Myelocytic Leukemia at age 9.  She was treated with chemo hard and heavy for 6 months, received 44 blood transfusions (RBC's and Platelets) and is now in remission and nearing 13 years old.  Less than 1 month after she was diagnosed the Warrior's ball tournament was held in Hope's honor. 

We will be forever grateful to all who participated with this fund raiser.

In June of 2004, Carson Bandy was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or ALL. She became sick on Father’s day and after two trips to the emergency room and a trip to her doctor in Enid, she was diagnosed and immediately flown to St. Francis Children’s Hospital in Tulsa. Her blood counts were extremely low and she was near death. In Tulsa, her doctors immediately started treatment and the long road to recovery began. She responded well to the chemo but a depressed immune system allowed her to catch a number of things, one being a fungal infection that nearly killed her. The infection took her gall bladder and almost took the vision in her left eye. On Labor Day weekend of the same year, she nearly died. The doctors still don’t know why she made it thru that weekend but ever since that weekend, she became stronger and stronger. She spent over seven weeks in the ICU and over seven months in the hospital.

Carson’s attitude never changed. She always made the best of things and always thought of others before herself. She quickly became the sweetheart of all the nurses and doctors in the hospital. Everyone knew who Carson Bandy was. She even made one of her doctors wear a pink tutu on Halloween.

Carson is now finished with her three years of chemotherapy as of June 2007. Her blood counts still continue to improve one month off of chemo. She will continue to have her blood and spinal fluid checked for another year, then will have only her blood checked for the next four years. Carson will continue on.

I just wanted to take this time to tell you a little about Trent.  Trent was an honor roll student and loved to play sports. He is a wonderful big brother and loves to give his older sister an hard time.  On March 7th 2007 our family was not prepared for the news we received on what we thought that day would be an routine eye appt. Trent had been having headaches and problems with his vision and I only thought he needed glasses. I was advised by the eye doctor I needed to take my son to the ER because Trent's eyes would not respond to light. After an emergency ct scan I was advised 10 min later my son had an brain tumor and we were to be rushed to OKC from Altus OK to the children's hospital. After arrival I was met with to neurosurgeons who ordered an MRI that would later told that his tumor was the size of a lime in the pineal (middle) region of his brain.

 He was admitted to ICU and the following day he had surgery to have a tube placed in his head to drain fluid to relieve pressure and the first attempt to get a biopsy. Trent started to bleed on the inside and the surgeons had to pull out. One week later an second a try to get a biopsy was successful and I was advised my son has cancer and the only way to treat is through chemo and radiation. His tumor is on a main artery and they not operate. We started chemo from ICU and Trent remained the hospital for 2 months due to complications. It has been six months and we have just began his lengthy radiation treatment. He has radiation 5 days a week in OKC and we now live in Enid to be closer to treatments and family.

To all who worked so hard to make it all possible, Trent and I would like to thank you for such a

wonderful weekend.  I was amazed at how people like you really do exist.

Everything made an impact on Trent's life. He will never forget this or you.

  I have not seen my son so happy like this in a long time. He is glowing today. We are looking forward

 to see the next persons life touched for years, to come as ours will be.  Trent only has known you

 for short time, but already loves all of you as family.

              Thank You,

                                    Melanie ,Trent And family

2008

In March 2008 and after several tests and biopsies is was revealed that I had breast cancer. I was devastated at the news. The doctor decided that a double mastectomy was the best thing to do. Everything came out okay but it was sure scary and stressful. With the support that I received from Dr. Shreck, his staff and all my family and friends everything was made a little bit easier during those trying times. I was able to play softball two months after my surgery. I would also like to THANK the WARRIORS and all of the people that volunteered their time during the benefit tournament. This act of kindness shows that there are still friendly people in the world.

2008

August 2009

Hello, my name is Terri Houska.   My son Holden, who is now 12 years old, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes right before his 10th birthday.  Holden is doing very well and is still in the so called “honeymoon” stage so far.  He requires little to no insulin and mainly has to watch low blood sugars.  He still participates in baseball and football.
          Last year he was honored at the Annual Warrior Benefit Softball Tournament.  We were fortunate enough to be able to pay off his medical expenses from all the donations.  We want to send out a special thanks to all who participated and volunteered their time.  This tournament is held every year to help those families whom are having a lot of expenses due to health issues.  It’s a great way to help our community and bring people together for a great cause.  Thank you again for all your help in making our lives easier and I hope they can continue to help others.

Forever Grateful,

The Houska Family