Return to School Delights Young Cancer Survivor

SANTA ANA, CA (September 7, 2001) - Most children dread the thought of going back to school after a long summer vacation. Timothy Salas is a notable exception - and for good reason.

Salas, whose father, Ed, is pastor of Tapestry Covenant Church in Santa Ana, was able to return to classes September 4 following a lengthy recovery from cancer. It was a welcome 11th birthday present for a boy who has had plenty of physical ups and downs during the past 15 months.

Doctors removed a quarter-sized tumor from Timothy's brain stem on June 9 last year. He has been in and out of the hospital since that time on the road to recovery. A story in the February 2001 issue of The Covenant Companion took a closer look at his ordeal.

Salas completed his final chemotherapy treatment August 27 and appears headed for a full recovery. After months of transfusions, medical treatments and tests, his mother is relieved. Ginny Salas noted in a journal entry, "We are so thankful and grateful to be on the other side of the tunnel . . . it means so much for him to start with his class.

"Timothy had a great (first) day at school," she continued. "He came home saying that he was going to miss the good stuff if he left early every day. I told him he can stay longer at school as long as he's feeling up to it and calls me. I think he's going to need some time, though. He's exhausted tonight, but had a really wonderful day. Some classmates came by the house after school for cake and ice cream. That was fun."

The recovery process has been anything but easy. His mother continues to track his progress through daily journal entries. Her entries include observations following examinations, transfusions and injections of medications. Chemotherapy has been a regular part of Timothy's life - the side effects have left him ill for periods of time. He also has struggled to produce enough healthy white blood cells to fight off illness. He lost hearing for periods of time and worked hard to keep his weight up, requiring numerous blood transfusions to restore nutrients to his body.

Nevertheless, Timothy has managed to keep involved in school functions, attending many of the special events last year and maintaining his academic grade level. Ginny and Ed Salas are grateful for the prayers of those throughout the denomination and beyond.

Those interested in keeping up with Timothy's progress can visit his website at www.geocities.com/howistim.

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