Northwest Arkansas 8-Year-Olds Form Friendship While Battling Cancer
By: KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: September 19, 2012
Click here to watch this report.
Eight-year-old Gunnison Riggins wears a lot of bracelets, and on many of them you'll see the words "team Gunnison"
"It's a thing that represents me," explains Gunnison.
And it's a team with many members. Gunnison was diagnosed with cancer earlier this summer, and immediately the community came together.
Hospital visitors included former Hog football player Ryan Mallett, and Lt. Governor Mark Darr. During Darr's visit, he declared June 27th National Gunnison Riggins Day.
Back in NW Arkansas thousands of people have showed support in various ways. The congregation at Cross Church even prayed over Gunnison during a Sunday service.
Team Gunnison is strong in their support and their faith, but two weeks ago Gunnison found new strength through a new friend.
"I had heard about Gunnison through the community," says Kim Palmer. "And I had heard about the Riggins."
Kim Palmer is the mother of Kaylee Palmer. Like Gunnison, Kaylee is eight years old, and she too is fighting cancer.
"I had talked to Gunnison's mom Kari before, and I knew that his counts were getting low," explains Kim. "And I texted her and asked her if she was coming in for blood because we were going into the hospital and she said yes."
The two instantly hit it off at the hospital.
"He's been so excited that somebody the same age has cancer and is going through it and understands what he's going through," says Kari Riggins.
It's a friendship that continues back at home.
The two are together just about as often as their parents let them be, and their families wouldn't have it any other way.
"Getting blood and things like that that normal kids don't understand and might be scared about, explains Kari. "But they just talk like adults talking back and forth to each other."
"I think they're lifelong friends," says Kim. "You know there are just some people you meet that are your soul mates, and I think that they are that way."
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Over 13-thousand kids are diagnosed with cancer each year. Click here if you'd like to learn more.
Gunnison's sister made a Youtube video describing Gunnison's story. Click here to see it.
Click here to check out Kaylee's blog.
Eight-year-old Gunnison Riggins wears a lot of bracelets, and on many of them you'll see the words "team Gunnison"
"It's a thing that represents me," explains Gunnison.
And it's a team with many members. Gunnison was diagnosed with cancer earlier this summer, and immediately the community came together.
Hospital visitors included former Hog football player Ryan Mallett, and Lt. Governor Mark Darr. During Darr's visit, he declared June 27th National Gunnison Riggins Day.
Back in NW Arkansas thousands of people have showed support in various ways. The congregation at Cross Church even prayed over Gunnison during a Sunday service.
Team Gunnison is strong in their support and their faith, but two weeks ago Gunnison found new strength through a new friend.
"I had heard about Gunnison through the community," says Kim Palmer. "And I had heard about the Riggins."
Kim Palmer is the mother of Kaylee Palmer. Like Gunnison, Kaylee is eight years old, and she too is fighting cancer.
"I had talked to Gunnison's mom Kari before, and I knew that his counts were getting low," explains Kim. "And I texted her and asked her if she was coming in for blood because we were going into the hospital and she said yes."
The two instantly hit it off at the hospital.
"He's been so excited that somebody the same age has cancer and is going through it and understands what he's going through," says Kari Riggins.
It's a friendship that continues back at home.
The two are together just about as often as their parents let them be, and their families wouldn't have it any other way.
"Getting blood and things like that that normal kids don't understand and might be scared about, explains Kari. "But they just talk like adults talking back and forth to each other."
"I think they're lifelong friends," says Kim. "You know there are just some people you meet that are your soul mates, and I think that they are that way."
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Over 13-thousand kids are diagnosed with cancer each year. Click here if you'd like to learn more.
Gunnison's sister made a Youtube video describing Gunnison's story. Click here to see it.
Click here to check out Kaylee's blog.
