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LIGHT ONE CANDLE This teen's facing a hard reality with grace, kindness and love EDITOR'S NOTE : This is one in a series of stories about people who need help during the holiday season. Most teenagers spend their free time hanging out with friends or pursuing their favorite hobby or sport. But this 15-year-old has a different reality, one most teenagers would find difficult to imagine. He spends his free time helping his mom, 38, who has terminal cancer. Her mother helps both of them. Before her illness, the teenager's mother owned horses, enjoyed barrel racing and worked as a truck driver. Her illness was diagnosed in 1994 and she underwent surgery. In 1996, more cancer was found, and that's when the teenager decided to move from California to Sams Valley to be with her. "He knows that he doesn't have all the time in the world to be with her," said Meesha Shoop, the counselor at CrossRoads School, an alternative education program. His mom has lived two years longer than doctors expected. She is feisty and still mobile, despite chronic pain from the tumors that have spread throughout her body, including her legs, shoulder and back. Shoop said the teenager has shown "immense strength of character, empathy and has become a bit of a philosopher" in dealing with his mom's illness and future. "Most kids would be running away from it," she said, but "helping Mom out makes him feel good." Despite the difficulties, he also has managed to ace his math tests and carry a B average. He likes playing "Star Trek" computer games, watching "Star Trek" and talking about "Star Trek." He even does a great impersonation of Scotty. He also likes being out in the country, and enjoys tinkering with things. He does a lot of fix-up work at their place. What this family of two really needs, Shoop said, is one or two cords of wood for heat during the winter. The teenager could also use some new clothes. He wears a mens size medium in shirts and a size 16 in wide-leg pants. They could also use second-hand tools, including a hammer, rake, shovel, hoe, ax and screwdrivers. Any readers interested in helping the family, or CrossRoads, can call the school at 770-1270, and ask for Sadie Gemmell or Jazzma Barge. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA