Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories State police search for pursuit suspect near Hyatt Lake Police Reports Cheering on the champs Ashland's Safeway part of Haggen acquisition Ashland to hold parade for the national champion Raiders Education For a friend: AHS seniors team up to help former fellow student Ashland builds a bridge across the STEM gap Chicken pox hits Ashland Middle School AHS speech and debate team to compete in Medford Ashland: Lions Club steps up for vision tests Environment New TAP pumps bolster Ashland's options Most residents speak against gas pipeline proposed for Southern Oregon Home Help: Make your new house feel like home ‘Tis the season — for wild mushrooms Business Ashland's Safeway part of Haggen acquisition The Playwright pub will be serving again Saturday Mt. Ashland managers ponder opening this week Hats with a Past Employment in Oregon surpasses pre-recession levels Politics and elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Local rep to testify before U.S. Senate panel Tuesday Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means Miller write-in campaign lands Ashland Parks and Rec seat State News In Portland, mindfulness classes ease stress of high school GMO label measure, losing by 809 votes, headed for recount Resent ballots, late results likely to trigger GMO recount Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Death Notices Death Notices Bernard Eugene Krueger Death Notices Christina Lea "Mima" Jacobson Shareable Sports Latest Stories Raiders bring it home Weber's triple-double help SOU men survive OT thriller For fans who made trip, title game special Cheering on the champs NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! SOU tops Marian in NAIA football finals High school Shibley-Styer, Malcolm lead Grizzlies to comeback win over Henley Feinberg scores 17 in Grizz loss Grizzlies tripped up late in tourney loss to Ridgeview Grizzlies' comeback attempt falls short against Mazama Ashland girls win three duals in home swim meet Southern Oregon University Raiders bring it home Weber's triple-double help SOU men survive OT thriller For fans who made trip, title game special Cheering on the champs Shibley-Styer, Malcolm lead Grizzlies to comeback win over Henley Opinion Latest Stories Herb Rothschild Jr.: The Christmas spirit Our View: Good news this week The vaccination deniers Granlund cartoon: Christmas season Matthew T. Mangino: The future of the death penalty in question? Editorial Our View: Good news this week The vaccination deniers Other Views: Hunting helps the economy Our View: ACH's remarkable recovery Our View: Growing up is inevitable Letters Letters to the Editor, Dec. 17 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 16 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 11 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 8 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 5 Guest opinions Herb Rothschild Jr.: The Christmas spirit Guest Opinion: Heard the buzz about Bee City USA? Herb Rothschild Jr.: Fight Zionist suppression Guest Opinion: Life — and death — by choice Guest Opinion: The environmental tipping point Revels Latest Stories Dancing People Company celebrates the Winter Solstice 4 Things to do this weekend Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Best Bets: Dec. 18-24 'Homesman' plays grit and despair perfectly Theater ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Putting the music into 'A Christmas Carol' Meet the real Jacob Marley Music Rating old-timers’ albums from 2014 SOU presents all-percussion concert Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: This ‘Museum’ entry should be closed to the public Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 'Homesman' plays grit and despair perfectly Movie review: Exiting Middle-earth with a triumphant flourish Movie review: A captivating film about a girl gone ‘Wild’ Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Looking Up: The stars from the North Pole Suzette Martinez Standring: Christmas light reflections Health Watch: Change up your treadmill workout In Good Faith: Fallen angels Marketta Gregory: Advent calendar Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW State police search for pursuit suspect near Hyatt Lake ... Raiders bring it home ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: The Christmas spirit ... State police search for pursuit suspect near Hyatt Lake ... Raiders bring it home ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: The Christmas spirit ... FIGHTING CANCER Community rallies to light the night for boy Diagnosis grim, but 12-year-old Alex keeps looking ahead Comment By John Darling for the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling for the Tidings Posted Nov. 26, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Nov 26, 2014 at 12:17 PM By John Darling for the Tidings Posted Nov. 26, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Nov 26, 2014 at 12:17 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Alex Shepherd » Social News Just back home from a transfusion and other treatments for brain cancer, 12-year old Alex Shepherd Tuesday was greeted by Yule carols, a hug from his mom and a professional holiday lighting of his Ashland home, donated by Brotherhood Painting. The merry lights and swags were the brainchild of family friend Kimberly Bruhn of Ashland. Alex’s MRI Friday showed tumors had advanced aggressively. His parents, Dan and Aushna Shepherd, both registered nurses, are seeking to maximize the good times as the disease progresses. “It’s not what we wanted to hear,” Dan said. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed with this whole set of changes. He’s been off chemo and his platelets are low. If his bone marrow function improves, he might qualify for a clinical trial next week in Southern California. The most we can hope for is to slow the progression of the disease and buy him some quality time. It’s a bad hand to be dealt.” Bruhn has been a steadfast ally of the family since Alex's diagnosis on May 9, 2013. She lost her young son Michael to cancer last year and has organized the Team Alex Facebook page, keeping supporters and family in touch and providing pictures, news and a link to fundraising efforts at www.youcaring.com. It has raised $3,690 on a goal of $15,000. Of the gratis Yule lighting and countless other gifts and labor from the community, Aushna says, “I can’t believe how much people donate and give time for us. It’s so beautiful and kind.” “Any time something little can be done with such a big payoff, for someone who’s suffered so much, I mean, I have a blessed life and I gladly give this day of it," said Clay Bustin, owner of Brotherhood Painting. Alex's battle with anaplastic astrocytoma, an aggressive and terminal brain cancer, led to a spot on the "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," where the family received a new car (for frequent trips to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland) and a trip to Hawaii. Still, expenses have been difficult, especially because of time off work to care for Alex. Hanging yule swag, Ona Williams said she went through this with Bruhn, her close friend, and is glad to lend support now. “Anything with kids tugs at my heart,” Williams said. “You just see this too much.” “It has changed everything,” says Aushna. “You don’t so much plan for the future. You plan for the next day. It can all change in an hour and you’re going to the hospital.” A student at Ashland Middle School and an avid bicyclist with his dad before the disease, Alex has been noted for his love of his five cats, his dancing around the hospital room and his relentless cheer, says his mom. “But he’s getting a little more scared now, as he gets more symptomatic," Aushna says. "He always tells me to look on the bright side, dancing and telling me jokes. I wish I had a piece of his attitude. He always talks about what he’s going to do when he’s older, like be a doctor. He doesn’t want to talk about how serious it is. He’s protecting himself.” In a post on the Team Alex Facebook, Aushna notes, “Beyond devastating, numb. ... What a difference 18 months make; 18 terrible, unfair, heartbreaking, yet beautiful months. ... He's been through a lifetime of pain and still believes that ‘life is good.’ His faith is strong as mine dwindles. He is so brave when I feel like I can't breathe. What a gift he is that I feel unworthy to have.” Reach Ashland freelance writer John Darling at [email protected]. By John Darling for the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling for the Tidings Posted Nov. 26, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Nov 26, 2014 at 12:17 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501