By Chris Moore

chris.moore@panews.com

 

BEAUMONT — Battling cancer can take a toll physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. Provost Umphrey L.L.P. hosted a Christmas party Wednesday for five area children going through that battle to help lift their spirits and allow them to celebrate Christmas a little early.

Among children who attended the event, two were from Sabine Pass ISD — Anthony Villanueva, 16, and Marissa Peltier, 18 — one was from Hamshire-Fannett ISD, Colin Nepveux, 13, one was from Nederland ISD, Kiplyn Garner, 13 and one from Port Arthur ISD, Brian Ford, 8.

One surprise came when Nepveux opened his gift, which contained a blindfold and a letter instructing him to cover his eyes until further notice. While the blindfold was on, the staff brought in a four-wheeler and placed it in front of the boy.

But the event was filled with suprises.

Ford’s mother, Lajuanta Tyler, surprised her son after telling him he was on his way to another doctor’s appointment.

“He came in and saw Santa Claus — nothing else,” Tyler said. “This event means a lot. I work hard. I go to school and I’m just happy that somebody could make his Christmas better than it would’ve been.”

In October, Ford was diagnosed with leukemia between stages 1 and 2.

“Right now, we are back and forth between specialists,” Tyler said. “I really don’t talk about it a lot in front of him. I’m just learning the lingo for everything.”

Tyler’s family is all too familiar with the battle. She and her sister were diagnosed with stomach and breast cancer, respectively. Her mom died of lung cancer.

“My mother-in-law just lost her aunt and cousin, who were mother and daughter, in October. When we were burying her, we found out he was sick,” Tyler said. “It’s just been an ongoing thing — over and over.”

Villanueva’s mother Vicky Villanueva said the party and gifts were a blessing.

“I think all of these kids here fight a battle that nobody can understand but them,” she said. “For them to do this for these kids, I think it definitely brightens up their Christmas and helps them smile through everything that they are struggling with.”

Villanueva said she made the event a surprise for Anthony.

“He didn’t know about it,” she said. “He thought it was just going to be a Christmas luncheon. He didn’t know about the gifts until we got here and he saw them under the tree.”

Anthony said the experience was a shock to him.

“I was just getting ready to eat,” he said. “I was happy just being here. Getting something extra just made my day. I’m just very happy to be here.”

Anthony was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July 2017, and went into remission 29 days after starting treatment.

Vicky said Anthony would have to continue treatments until a month before he graduates, which will make nearly four years of treatment.

Provost Umphrey Managing Partner Joe Fisher said every year the firm tries to do some kind of community outreach.

“It’s very driven by our staff,” he said. “This isn’t a situation where the firm just writes a big check. This is by the employees. The staff raises the money to buy the presents.

“Our other lawyers participate, but the staff drove it. They’re average, salt-of-the-earth folks that stepped up to help these families and we’re so proud of them.”

Fisher said the firm contacted area schools and asked the counselors to see if there were any families who would be interested in participating.

“It’s made my year just to watch the children open the presents and see the looks on their faces,” he said. “From our standpoint, it’s a small contribution. We’re just privileged to be a part of it.

“These families are going through a difficult time. I hope what the staff did and what the firm did brought them some hope and joy.”