The Advance

Issue date: 3/2/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Tanner Colvin Heidi and daughter Chloe take a little time out of their day to read

Heidi Feyerherm has given up her position as editor of The Advance to spend more time with Chloe, her daughter. Heidi and Chloe have received a lot of support during this difficult time. In December a benefit concert was held at Capers and the Art Club at KWU made and sold ornaments which helped raise funds.

Big Brother/Big Sister, which Hunter and Chloe participate in, held a Chili Lunch in January which raised over $3,500. The Salina Journal has raised over $5,000 in funds. Angel Flights is another initiative which hopes to help Chloe and her family travel back and forth to Houston for treatments. This program involves families who own small planes which fly children to hospitals, saving on costly airfares.
Back in December the Advance reported the sad case of Chloe Watson's battle with a brain tumor. Chloe is the six-year old daughter of KWU Senior Arts Education Major Heidi Feyerherm. On November 7, Chloe was diagnosed with a brainstem tumor which could not be operated on as it is so close to the brain. Chloe received 31 treatments of radiation at the Kansas City Cancer Park, however a MRI scan done at the start of February discovered that the treatment did nothing and the tumor has actually
increased in size. These results were very disappointing for Heidi and her family.

Currently Heidi is exploring options for Chloe's future treatment. Houston
Children's Hospital offers progressive clinical trials that are not offered at every hospital. These are well-monitored and
one trial combines two chemo drugs together. Chloe and Heidi will travel to Houston Children's Hospital in mid-March to see what treatment is available and decide upon the best route to take, with the hope of starting treatment in April.Chloe continues to follow her regular routine,attending school every day. Heidi said that Chloe is still her normal, happy self although tires more easily. Chloe celebrated her seventh birthday yesterday, (March 1.) Chloeturned in three wishes to the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, one of these wishes was to go to Disneyland which is coming true for Chloe. Chloe, Heidi, Hunter (Heidi's eight year old son,) and Keri (Heidi's sister,) will go to Disneyland, Florida for six days and five nights on March 6. They will stay in Give Kids The World village, which is a resort for children with life-threatening illnesses. This village provides a fun-filled vacation for sick children and their families with tickets for the various theme parks, meals and movie tickets. Chloe and Hunter are both very excited about the trip.

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