Kids beat cancer, meet athletic heroes

AUSTIN (KXAN) - When the temperatures hit a consistent 80 degrees or above, one by one people start poking their heads outside, lacing up their shoes to burn off cabin fever.

For about 50 Austin children, just being outdoors is a milestone. They have endured doctors, nurses, shots, painful treatments, and the walls of a hospital room for days. Many of those days turned in to years.

"They're resilient," says Mom Lisa Pacheco. "It's amazing what these kids go through and how they handle it."

Lisa's six year old daughter Sara was diagnosed with Burkitt's or non-Hodgkins Lymphoma when she was just three and a half.

"I didn't feel good, I was really tired all the time and sometimes I just wanted to be alone," said Sara Pacheco.

Lisa knew something was wrong and reacted immediately.

"She very quickly had a lot of abdominal pain and bloating and so we took her in to the pediatrician one morning and that afternoon they had a pretty good idea it was cancer," said Lisa.

It's been about 2 and a half years since Sara's last treatment and now you wouldn't even know what she's experienced.

She looks like a typical outgoing little girl who loves girl stuff. She's dressed in a bedazzled silver vest and sparkly tennis shoes to match. Sara's got her energy back too.

"It makes other people feel happy that I feel happy," said Sara Pacheco.

She's celebrating another cancer free birthday on the court shooting hoops with a few of her heros on the University of Texas Men's and Women's basketball teams.

Saturday, the American Cancer Society teamed up with the Cattle Baron's Ball and a host of past and present NFL athletes from the University of Texas and Austin High School to help celebrate life. Football players ran drills and obstacle course on the field at the West Austin Youth Association facility . In the gym, athletes helped survivors dribble and shoot basketballs, and even learn tumbling.

Mia LeBoeuf dribbled and shot a few rounds with her friend Sara. Mia's now eight years old and has been in remission for five years. Mia is shy and doesn't say much. She didn't have to, her purple t-shirt said it all, "Survivor."

"I look at what I've been through and I look at her on a daily basis because we are so blessed," said Mom Loree LeBeouf.

Mia was about 17 months old when her Mother Loree knew something was wrong but Loree says it took a while for doctors to get it right. Loree didn't give up and continued to seek out doctors. One of them finally figured it out.

But Loree's family had more than just the stress of having a sick child to deal with. Hurricane Katrina added the ultimate challenge.

"I can honestly say, that was the worst time in our lives," said LeBoeuf.

Mia was treated at a children's hospital in New Orleans. When Katrina showed up, Mia had to be moved to MD Anderson in Houston. The LeBoeuf's's are a family of strong survivors. It was Mia's sister that saved her life.

"She ultimately underwent a stem cell transplant and this Thursday was five years since she had that stem cell transplant, compliments of my middle daughter who was only six years old at the time and she's doing terrific," said LeBoeuf.

This day brings joy to the hearts and faces of all the families with loved ones who are cancer survivors.

"When I see this out here today and I see all these kids running around, this is a true survivorship story," said LeBeouf. "This shows what research can do these kids won't be here if it weren't for the resources that are available."

"We're seeing a lot of great things with the kids that are out here and healthy with other kids that have been in our situation. It's very inspiring," said Pacheco.