Sitting on the couch playing video games all of day appeals to several teenagers, however not 18-year-old A.J. Shiggs. He would certainly considerably very visit class and delight in his last minutes as a senior at Ridgeland-Hardeeville Higher School.
Trips to and from the hospital were a routine occurrence for Shiggs and his mother Carnelia Williams from the moment he was born as a result of a sickle cell anemia diagnosis. however for the past 6 or seven years, the Pineland resident continued to delight in school and his preferred sport, basketball.
That was until Sept. 15, 2015, as soon as Shiggs was diagnosed along with leukemia.
“It was shocking and hurtful,” Williams said.
The diagnosis drastically impacted Shiggs, that had simply started his senior year.
“I was mad. I knew I was going to skip school,” he said.
For Shiggs, school is everything. He participated in JROTC and had strategies to join the Air Force. Though his chemotherapy treatments are finished, he still has actually not been cleared to return to class.
The road has actually been bumpy. In December, he was exposed to a sick hospital staff member, which caused your man to come to be ill.
“He got a sore throat, after that his lung collapsed and he had to be sedated for two and half weeks,” Williams said.
But Shiggs remembers nothing. He does not also bear in mind laying in a hospital bed on Christmas Day.
Nearly two months after his last treatment and just a couple of months prior to graduation on June 1, Williams said she is attempting to grab her son acclimated to daily life again.
“We’re attempting to grab your man spine to himself,” Williams said.
A.J.’s godmother Tamika Shiggs said the trip has actually not been basic for Williams, that additionally has actually a 2-year-old son, Jordan, and functions full-time at the Georgia Ports Authority.
“She’s invested a great deal of time away from Jordan since she had to be at the hospital for A.J. And thankfully her task has actually worked along with her, so she can easily go on to pay the hospital bills,” Shiggs said. “however it’s gained an impact on her as a solitary mother.”
Support system
Though battling cancer and the incurable sickle cell diagnosis has actually been a trial for Shiggs and his mother, they are thankful for a supportive community.
“It was Challenging on the family, however yet we dealt along with it. We left it in prayer and in God’s hands since we don’t have actually any kind of regulate over this,” Williams said. “Everybody has actually been there to suggestions A.J. along with his school job and visited him.”
Ridgeland-Hardeeville Higher showed support for Shiggs by hosting a teachers versus students basketball game fundraiser Feb. 28. Concerning $1,100 was raised through ticket and meals sales.
“His class has actually been behind your man because day one,” Williams said.
Shiggs said it’s nice to already know his friends and classmates care.
Their church family additionally showed support by hosting a incentive last weekend break at Rev. Donald Sheftall’s St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church.
Tamika Shiggs said she brought the suggestion to Sheftall since cancer could have actually easily damaged her or her child.
“We were talking Concerning medical bills and I believed Concerning it. … It could’ve been me. It could’ve been my maternal kid that I would certainly have actually to ensure they’re OK and take off from job to visit the hospital,” she said. “Everybody at the church was on board and willing to help. That’s exactly what makes a community great.”
Shiggs is adjusting to being estate again by playing video games, spending time along with his little brother and maintaining up along with his school work. however he looks forward to obtaining spine to his friends and making the a lot of of his senior year.
