Reba Canning, pediatric cancer patient

It was the fall of 2007, and 16-year-old Rebecca “Reba” Canning was doing her favorite thing -- playing softball. At this particular game, the dirt pushed out from under Reba’s cleats as she rounded the bases with intensity. As this star pitcher and A-student crossed home plate and headed for the dugout, she noticed that her breath was coming back slower than normal. Assuming she had just pushed herself a little too hard, Reba tried to forget about it and continued to play.

Over the next few weeks, Reba’s breathing became increasingly more difficult, and she was constantly low on energy. After school, she would take long naps and began to complain about a strange feeling in her chest. Reba’s parents, Tonya and John Canning, grew worried. When Reba experienced swelling in her chest, neck, and eyes, Tonya and John knew she needed care. They took Reba to a nearby hospital for examination.

When an MRI revealed a tumor the size of a man’s fist in Reba’s chest, the hospital referred the Cannings to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center. After a variety of tests, Reba was diagnosed with a cancer called non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and immediately admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital – the only one of its kind in the region – to begin treatment.

Treatment wasn’t easy; Reba went through five phases that included 26 different chemotherapy drugs. She often felt tired and weak, which was especially difficult for someone accustomed to training and working out for two hours a day. The teen also lost her curly, blonde hair.

But in the end, it was all worth it. Reba’s cancer went into remission quickly and hasn’t returned. She received her last treatment in October of 2009 and doctors at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital say her prognosis is excellent.

In addition to her good grades and softball prowess, Reba is known for always having a smile on her face. Her smile was never bigger than when she was able to get back in the pitchers’ circle in the spring of 2009. In her first game, she sent batter after batter back to the bench, just as she had done to cancer.

Reba is now finishing her senior year of high school and is preparing to graduate. Despite her challenges, Reba earned herself a scholarship to college where she will continue doing what she loves.

Listen to Reba Canning tell her story:

Learn more about Pediatric Oncology at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital.