Biggest Wish Granted: Minooka Teacher Cancer Free

When Minooka Community High School science teacher Sam Pavelka returned home from a recent trip to Johns Hopkins, he was delighted to learn one of his wishes was granted.

The team from 3 Little Birds 4 Life—a St. Louis-based non-profit dedicated to enhancing the lives of young adult cancer patients—discarded the mismatched furniture in his old master bedroom and turned the space into his very own sanctuary.

“My bedroom makeover was amazing,” Pavelka said. “It completely exceeded my expectations. The TV, furniture, chair and decorations were very nice. It is great to have a fresh start in a new room.”

Even greater was the news Pavelka received from his team of doctors a couple days later. After battling Ewing’s Sarcoma—a rare pediatric bone cancer—through two rounds of chemotherapy treatments over the last seven years, he has been declared cancer free.

Pavelka, 29, went to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore—site of his spinal cord surgery last December—to have an IVC filter removed and to undergo a scan to determine his status earlier this month.

“Johns Hopkins was a great experience,” Pavelka said. “The IVC filter was removed from my neck, and I do not have to get injections of blood thinners anymore. Blood clots are no longer an issue.

“As for my spine, I will have to see my spinal surgeon every six months for the rest of my life. However, he did explain the success of the surgery, and I was amazed. My tumor was removed with one cut, and the rest of the vertebrae showed no cancer cells.

“My scan also showed no cancer anywhere in my body, so I am officially in remission.”

Pavelka is grateful for the support he has received from so many in the community and has been touched by the folks at 3 Little Birds 4 Life.

Board member Krista Swip and wish champion Lauren Greenwood visited with Sam and his family—wife Cheryl, and daughters, Taylor 3, and Madelyn, 9 months, at his home in Minooka in March. Cheryl is a second-grade teacher in the Oswego school district.

At that time, Swip and Greenwood took notes and measurements in Pavelka’s master bedroom, drawing up his wish list. Then, the room was filled with mismatched, hand-me-down furniture and the walls were painted a dark and dreary blue.

He long sense had grown tired of looking at those walls during his chemo treatments, which knocked him off his feet for extended periods. He contacted 3 Little Birds. And they took care of the rest.

“Please make sure you mention how thankful I am to everyone who helped make my wish possible,” Pavelka said. “Cheryl and I are so appreciative.”

Members of the 3 Little Birds organization went shopping with Cheryl Pavelka to pick out items for their new master bedroom and recruited volunteers and donors to assist in the project. A team of 10 volunteers arrived at Pavelka’s house early on Saturday, April 10.

Later, seven more showed up. And, by the end of the day on Sunday, April 7, the bedroom makeover was complete.

“Sam and Cheryl and their two children, Taylor and Madelyn walked into their new bedroom and loved it,” Greenwood said.

She said Sam’s wish was the first granted by the new Chicago chapter of 3 Little Birds. The organization, while based in St. Louis, is branching out and Greenwood expects the non-profit to grant several more wishes in the Chicago area in 2013.

To learn more about the group or to donate to the cause, visit http://3littlebirds4life.org