Henderson 7-year-old shares his cancer story to teach others
Henderson resident James Kish is a builder.
Equipped with a box of Legos, the 7-year-old can construct anything from a helicopter to a replica of The Simpsons' home.
If given the chance, he said he would build his entire bedroom out of Legos.
"I want to be a Lego designer when I grow up," James said. "I like that art, architecture and math are part of being a Lego designer because those are my favorite things."
But while James is busy building with Legos, his body is building the strength to fight.
Two weeks after his March birthday, James was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, a rare malignant tumor that affects the brain or spine.
"He had headaches off and on for about two months, so we booked a doctor's appointment because we were getting concerned," said James' mother, Amy Schildknecht. "However, we ended up in the emergency room two days before the appointment because he woke up screaming from a 'stabbing' headache. The next night, which was Easter, we were on a private medevac jet to (Los Angeles)."
James underwent his first brain surgery April 8 to remove an egg-sized tumor and a second surgery April 16 for a grape-sized mass.
Because doctors could remove only about 95 percent of the tumor, James completed 33 daily sessions of radiation. He’s also set to receive two years of chemotherapy.
"Since Mommy couldn't be in the radiation room with me, I brought all my stuffed animals to keep me company," James said. "I just told myself I could do it, and I wasn't scared at all."
While on the radiation table, James said he thought of questions to ask the doctor because he wanted to be informed on his health.
"It's important to keep them involved in their own treatment because it gives them power over it," Schildknecht said. "At first, it was hard to even say the word 'cancer,' but the more we talk about it, and the more we say it, the less power it has over us. We're able to just live our lives now."
In addition to treatments and surgeries, James is required to take about 40 pills every day.
"The worst thing about cancer is taking all the pills," he said. "The thing I miss most is jumping on the trampoline without it hurting my head."
Determined to use his story to inspire others, James visited his first-grade classmates to teach them about his condition. He explained his surgery using a stuffed rabbit given to him by doctors that is equipped with a miniature blood pressure cuff, IV tube, heart leads and staples in its head.
"Whenever he asked, 'Why me?,' we just told him he's on a special assignment from God," Schildknecht said. "We ask him, 'What are you going to do with it? Are you going to wallow in misery or use it to bring awareness and fight the fight?' He chose to fight the fight."
As a single mom, Schildknecht was forced to quit her job in order to care for James. With $2,000 in co-payments each month for medications, the family has been living off fundraisers while receiving help from various local childhood cancer foundations.
"Nothing can prepare you for this," she said. "The first 60 days, you're in a black hole. You can't even imagine what you're going to feel like or be like unless you're experiencing it firsthand."
With James' love for Legos, friends and family created homemade Bricks of Strength bracelets to raise awareness. Each costs $5, and all proceeds benefit James.
"The more bricks you have in place, the stronger the community is, really," Schildknecht said. "The brick could really stand for anything. It doesn't have to just be for pediatric cancer."
In addition, Schildknecht started a Facebook page to share James' story because she said a lot of people were adding her personal account just to get updates on her son.
"The page allows others to see that it is possible to get through something like this," she said. "I do post a lot of positive things, but I also occasionally post when he's sick or has a rough day to bring reality back.
"Once James is better, and everything's said and done, I just want to pass all the information I've learned to help other families."
James is set to attend second grade this fall at Somerset Academy. He enjoys playing video games and jumping on the trampoline with his younger sister, Juliette.
"James is the perfect example of living life to its fullest. He opens his eyes at 6:45 a.m., and he's ready to go," Schildknecht said. "He wants to use his story to inspire others. He wants to fill people's buckets in life. That's just who he is."
For more information or to donate, visit jameskish.com or bricksofstrength.com.
