Two days after chemotherapy Hart wins bronze
Jake Dew | March 8th, 2010 - Gold Coast Bulletin.
Jordan Hart competing at Queensland SLS Championships at Kurrawa after having chemo on Thursday. Picture: Michael Ross
JORDAN Hart should have been resting at his Gold Coast home over the weekend but the 16-year-old was having no part of it.
Battling to beat Hodgkin’s lymphoma since September, and receiving his latest round of chemotherapy last Thursday, the inspirational Northcliffe teenager was, instead, out doing what he loves in the surf and winning medals at the Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships at Kurrawa.
“It’s good to be out there with my mates, to be on the beach and not sitting at home,” said Hart, who defied the odds to team with Northcliffe clubbies Stewart Duffy, Cameron McEvoy and Zach Featherstone to win bronze in under-17 surf teams final.
In a sport where the big guns are known as ironmen, it was a tag befitting the All Saints senior who had his next round of chemotherapy changed to ensure he could compete for Kurrawa at the Aussie Championships.
And he showed his toughness at the weekend by placing fifth in the board rescue, but the most remarkable effort for the former Queensland butterfly and freestyle junior champion came in qualifying for the final of the under-17 surf race.
Hart was diagnosed late when the cancer in his chest was at stage three — meaning it had spread to both sides of the diaphragm.
While there were still a few hurdles to overcome before he was given the all clear, doctors were confident they had beaten it.
That was good news for Jordan, who has postponed his next round of chemotherapy, originally scheduled March 18, during the Aussies.
“I want to be good for one carnival, I was having no part of that,” he said of the decision to delay the treatment until March 22.
“(When I was diagnosed) I thought it was going to wreck my whole season but I’ll get to compete, so I’m pretty happy.
“I was planning on doing well in the Aussies this year but hopefully, if everything goes well with the treatment, I can get back into training in the off-season, get fit and healthy and hopefully next season can be a big one again.”
With Northcliffe streaking to the champion club title at the weekend, director of surf sports Mark Williams said Jordan could feel he played a big part in that.
“After the carnival he came back to the club and helped lift all the double skis off the trailer and not many kids come and do that,” said Williams. “It’s inspiring to see him not letting it get him down.”
While his courage had been inspiring to everyone around him, for parents Jenny and David, just seeing Jordan competing had been amazing.
“We’ve followed his example. Jordan has been so brave and so tough and it’s amazing how much courage he has shown,” said Jenny, who promised to be out cheering loudly when he competes at the Aussies.
“We’re so proud of him and it’s great that he can be part of it.”
“We don’t have any expectations and it’s nice that he can get in there and still be a normal kid.”
Understandably tentative to let him race on the weekend, Jenny said she left the decision in the hands of their oncologist.
“We were keen for him not to do too much so we said you ask the oncologist and if he says you can do it, you can do it,” she said.
“When he asked the oncologist said ‘you do what you feel you can do’ and (Jordan) looked at us very smugly.”
“He’s responded really well to treatment so we’re very lucky but through it all he’s been positive and we just have to get through this.”
“It’s just another big training session.”
With Northcliffe streaking to the champion club title on the weekend, director of surf sports Mark Williams said Jordan could feel he played a big part in that.
But it was the little things that meant more than any medals.
“To come out and get a medal is one of the most amazing things not only for our club but the entire carnival,” said Williams.
“But after after the carnival he came back to the club and helped lift all the double skis off the trailer and not many kids come and do that.”
“He loves being in the club, he’s a good quiet kid and it’s inspiring to see him not letting it get him down and being out there giving it his all.”
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/03/08/196035_gold-coast-news.html
