Mother shares son’s story with cancer

(WIVT/WBGH) – A local mother, whose son passed away from a brain tumor, remains an active advocate of bolstering support for pediatric cancer.

Beth Shumaker’s middle son, Sean, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1998. Through treatments, he battled, beat the disease, but then five years later, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Sean was turning 22 years old when he passed away in 2012.

His mother shared his story and created the Standing Strong Foundation to raise money for young adults with cancer, from the ages of 18 to 24. And she has volunteered with other organizations like Make a Wish and A Room to Heal.

Sean was one of six children in the Hillcrest area that were diagnosed with a deadly disease around the same time.

“Growing up with Sean through this journey with cancer, and meeting so many families in Syracuse Hospital, and every young kid all’s they say is, I just want to grow up. That’s all they want. They don’t want a new car, they don’t want toys, it’s always, I just want to grow up. Kids have cancer too. And, yes there’s treatments, yes, it’s curable, some-kinds, just like the adults too. But I think more can be done, more money can be done towards the research of pediatric cancer,” said Shumaker.

She says the health department investigated the uptick of deadly diseases in Hillcrest, and held public hearings at Chenango Valley High School.

The Standing Strong Foundation was dissolved as of last year, but Beth remains an active volunteer with several other groups.

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