Young Fort Loudon cancer patient thinks of animals first


When 17-year-old Rashaun Hann of Fort Loudon started her shopping spree this month as Franklin County's latest Make-a-Wish child, she didn't realize that the highlight of her day would not be picking out a Halloween costume for her dog or special things for herself, but meeting a cancer survivor and former Make-a-Wish child.

Rashaun, daughter of Bonnie and Scott Hann and an animal lover, had wished for special treats and toys for her pets at Pet Smart in Chambersburg, had lunch at Chambersburg Mall, then went to Wal-Mart to get a Wii and digital camera for herself.

At Wal-Mart, she was approached by an associate who identified himself as Garrett, telling Rashaun that he also once had childhood cancer and was a Make-a-Wish child.

Rashaun is suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system that strikes primarily young people and those older than 55.

Garrett and Rashaun talked for several minutes while he told her his story and reassured her that she, too, would beat her cancerous enemy and someday lead a normal life.

"It was joy, it was fate and it was hope and reassurance that Rashaun will beat this disease," said Staci Hull, a Make-a-Wish volunteer who spent the day with Rashaun and her family.

Rashaun's day began with the traditional Make-a-Wish limo ride from her home to Pet Smart, where she was greeted with a big basket of cat and dog treats and toys.

She then walked down each aisle in the store, picking out items for her pets, including a hooded sweat shirt and a Halloween costume for her dog Michael.

The next stop was Chambersburg Mall, where she was surprised with a "Welcome Rashaun" banner, balloons, a $100 mall gift certificate and gifts from several mall stores.

The Hann entourage then had lunch at Bonanza.

After lunch, Rashaun, her parents and two siblings headed for Wal-Mart, where Rashaun picked out a Wii, Wii Fit, a Play Station, two mini-laptop computers, some games and a camera, all things that she had always wanted but couldn't afford.

The afternoon ended with a trip to Mikie's Ice Cream in Greencastle, where the business treated Rashaun and her family to anything they wanted.

One in 330 children are diagnosed with cancer before they are 19, according to Bonnie Hann. She urges parents to "trust their gut" when it comes to their children's health, especially if they think something is wrong.

"Rashaun was the healthiest of our three kids prior to her diagnosis with Hodgkin's," she said.

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Vicky Taylor can be reached at 262-4753 or vtaylor@publicopinionnews.com. To see more of the Public Opinion, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.publicopiniononline.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Public Opinion, Chambersburg, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.


Copyright (C) 2009, Public Opinion, Chambersburg, Pa.

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