The Lynch kids together at the Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, where Griffin (center) was recuperating from treatment for a brain tumor. At his side were siblings Brendan and Fiona.

The last School Notes of 2009 features guest writer Sawyer Bowman, a junior at Woodlawn School, writing about how his classmate, Fiona Lynch, coped with her brother’s brain tumor diagnosis.

This is not just another school writing assignment for Sawyer, it’s a personal matter, since he recently lost two grandparents to brain tumors.  Sawyer wants to get the word out that there are support groups and websites available for families facing this cancer.

Read Sawyer’s story about the Lynch family below, and also get ready for a new year with our January calendar of school events.

HOPE OVER THE HOLIDAYS

by Sawyer Bowman

It was an ordinary autumn day for Fiona Lynch of Davidson, a ninth-grader at Woodlawn School.

She was out on Lake Norman celebrating with her volleyball teammates from Woodlawn and having a good time. However, as soon as she entered her dad’s car, she knew something was wrong. Her dad, William Lynch, told her that Griffin, her older brother, had passed out in the kitchen and was currently in the emergency room. “I was so scared,” recalled Fiona, “I wasn’t sure if he was going to be okay.” The next morning Fiona’s parents announced that Griffin had a brain tumor.

The news was unexpected. Griffin, a 17-year-old student at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Winston-Salem, was diagnosed with a malignant atypical neurocytoma, meaning the tumor will grow back. Just like that, the holiday plans for the Lynch family were turned upside down.  With a brain tumor diagnosis in the family, not much else mattered.

For nine weeks, Griffin’s parents conducted “tag-team parenting” between hospitals in Charlotte for Griffin, and time at home in Davidson with Fiona and her little brother, Brendan.

“It was a lot to take in at one time,” Fiona said, “I never imagined this could happen to my brother.” Although brain tumors seem uncommon, over 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed per year. The research behind brain tumors is severely under-funded, and the level of awareness is also very low.

MORE ON BRAIN TUMORS Sawyer Bowman Sawyer’s feature on Fiona and her family is part of his work to develop a website for people struggling with a brain cancer diagnosis. The website, which started as a class project at Woodlawn School, includes information on support groups, treatment options and more. Sawyer’s concern about brain tumors developed after his grandparents, Bill and Sally Klein of Cornelius, both died of the cancer, first Bill in 2002, and then Sally in 2007. “That was really tough for me and my family,” Sawyer said. “Now, I’m just trying to raise awareness.” His website, Brain Tumors in NC, can be found by clicking here.  The story of the Lynch family used in today’s School Notes is adapted from the website’s “perspectives” section.

During the time Griffin spent in the hospital, the entire family dynamic started to change. Eileen O’Flaherty, Fiona’s mom, made the decision to work part-time in order to free her schedule for Griffin. Despite the efforts made by the family to relieve the stress from Griffin’s tumor, the emotional toll was evident from even a simple family meal.

“The separation from Griffin was difficult,” Fiona described, “It was hard without the whole family.”

Regardless of the fear and shock from Griffin’s tumor, Fiona and her family did not wallow in self-pity. For instance, Fiona serendipitously found “NCSSM Praying for Griffin Lynch,” a Facebook group that supported Griffin and his family. Fiona immediately involved herself in the group and even provided updates on Griffin’s condition. The positive support from the group helped provide courage for Fiona, her family, and Griffin to overcome the brain tumor.

Finally, for Thanksgiving, Griffin was able to come home from the hospital for a visit.  The family was able to eat meals together, take Griffin to get a haircut at Raeford’s Barber Shop and even attend a Davidson College basketball game (complete with a post-game visit to the locker room to meet Coach McKillop and the team).

The Monday after Thanksgiving, Griffin and his mother headed to  Mass General Hospital in Boston for six weeks of proton radiation therapy.

The Lynch family will be together for Christmas with extended family in New Jersey.

Griffin’s recovery from a brain tumor alone is something to be grateful for, but the fact that he should soon be returning home after a harrowing few months truly redefines the meaning of Christmas.

The Lynch family will be together for Christmas. Surrounding Griffin (in striped shirt) are, clockwise from bottom left: little brother Brendan, mom Eileen O'Flaherty, dad William Lynch, and sister Fiona.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

• MONDAY, DEC. 21 - Two weeks of winter break starts for most area schools.
• WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6 – Walking Wednesday for Davidson Elementary School and for Community School of Davidson.
• THURSDAY, JAN. 7 – Davidson IB Middle will host the first of three January open houses for prospective students, starting at 10 a.m.   Families will be able to hear a presentation about the IB program and tour the school.  The other dates for open houses are Jan. 12 at 4:30 p.m., and Jan. 28 at 10 a.m.
• FRIDAY, JAN. 8 – Application period begins for enrolling in magnet programs (including IB) through CMS.  Applications can be done online and will be accepted through 10 p.m. on Feb. 8.  For more information, click here to get to the CMS Magnet Programs website.
• FRIDAY, JAN. 8 – Community School of Davidson will host the first of four January open houses.  This one will be held at 9:30 a.m., others will follow at 9:30 a.m. and also 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14, and then at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29.  To register for an open house, call the charter school at 704-896-6262, or send an email to info@csdnc.org.  The registration deadline for CSD is Jan. 31. For more information, click here to get to the CSD registration website.
• SATURDAY, JAN. 9 – Davidson Day will celebrate its first ever Homecoming.  Alumni will be invited to join students and faculty at basketball games for boys and girls against Covenant Classical.  Festivities start at 3 p.m., the girls play at 5 p.m. and the boys at 6:30 p.m.
• SUNDAY, JAN. 10 – Woodlawn School will host an open house for prospective students, from 1-3 p.m.  New student registration ends March 1 for the upcoing year.  For more information, click here for the Woodlawn admissions website.
• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JAN. 15-16 - Theater students at Bailey Middle will perform “Grease”
• MONDAY, JAN 18 – Most area schools will be closed for the Martin Luther King Holiday
• WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20 – Walking Wednesday for Davidson Day
• THURSDAY, JAN. 21 – Davidson IB Middle will host an information meeting for 8th graders interested in the high school level of the International Baccalaureate program.  Students and staff from the North Meck IB program will be on hand to answer questions.  The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the school auditorium.
• SUNDAY, JAN. 31 – Application forms are due at Community School of Davidson for the registration lottery for 2010.

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