For Sophie: Traverse City Christian community rallies around Sophie Stanton during her battle with leukemia

Oct. 1—TRAVERSE CITY — Leukemia doesn't stand much of a chance coming up against 13-year-old Sophie Stanton. Not with the strength she has.

Traverse City Christian High School hosted a silent auction and fundraiser Tuesday to help collect money for the Stantons as the family perseveres through this difficult time after Sophie was diagnosed with cancer. Before the TC Christian volleyball team took the court for the "Sophie Strong" game, more than 200 people attended the auction to bid on various items and purchase baked goods to offset the cost of the young Sabre's treatment.

"I'm a self-sufficient person. I don't like asking for help," Sophie's dad, Jimmy Stanton, said. "It's tough. We realized quickly that we were going to need some help."

During the video presentation shown after the JV match and before the varsity game against Baldwin, Jimmy said someone offered to match the highest bidder by $5,000.

The effort to raise funds for the Stantons began with second-year coach Hannah Pohlman and her team. When Pohlman took over last year, she wanted the team to do a fundraiser for a cause every season. Last year, the volleyball team donated the money to the pediatric center at the Munson Medical Center.

Pohlman said Sophie's mom, Rachel Stanton, informed the school of Sophie's situation, which gave the volleyball team an idea.

"We just asked them right away if we could donate our fundraiser game to them," Pohlman said. "Lots of sports do Dig Pink games, which is fabulous, but our goal is to try to make it a little closer to home. To be able to do something in our community where the kids see it helps them a little bit with the perspective."

Jimmy said having the Traverse City community care for Sophie as one of their own has been quite emotional.

"I'm just in a state of humility and just humbled that so many people would give their time and resources for our family," he said.

Sophomore Lydia Critchfield has been best friends with Lily Stanton, Sophie's sister, since the first grade. Critchfield spoke highly about TC Christian's support system when someone is in need.

"For a small school like TC Christian to come together and make a difference in the Stantons' life is amazing," Critchfield said. "I'm happy that TC Christian can do things like this, especially as small a community as we are."

Sophie was diagnosed with leukemia during the summer, just days before taking the stage to be in the "High School Musical" play at the local theater. She was developing symptoms of aplastic anemia that she had years ago. Rachel, who is a nurse, noticed some signs.

Rachel and Jimmy took Sophie to Munson, where they later found out that she had a rare case of aplastic anemia and leukemia at the same time.

"There has been only one other documented case where somebody had that. Because of that, [Sophie's] bone marrow is uniquely faulty," Jimmy said.

The parents were sent to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids right away to be in the care of Dr. Albert Cornelius and his team. Sophie has been undergoing rounds of chemotherapy and has one more left before receiving a bone marrow transplant.

"DeVos is an awesome place. It's the best place to be in the worst time of your life," Jimmy said. "That's how I would describe it."

Jimmy said the situation is out of his control, yet he still finds himself just letting go to cry every now and then.

"I'm kind of a stuffer," Jimmy said of how he handles his emotions, choosing to repress them as a way to cope. "I have my moments; but my wife, on the other hand, it's more of an emotional struggle for her."

Pohlman has experience at DeVos as she got treatment for bone cancer. Pohlman knows the work DeVos does for cancer patients is some of the best.

Finding a bone marrow donor can be challenging because the blood must match, but Sophie didn't have to wait too long because her sister, Chloe, was the perfect match. Sophie will be ready to receive her new bone marrow in November after her final round of chemo.

"When they found out [Chloe] was a match, they wanted to focus on her because she's a freshman in college," Jimmy said. "It was a perfect scenario, and she can make her own decisions to do it."

Jimmy was grateful when he discovered his oldest daughter was a match, but he said Chloe wasn't forced or told she had to be the donor.

"It's interesting because you want them to say 'yes,' and it's their decision," Jimmy said. "We didn't push her to make that decision or anything. It's just amazing that she can be there for her sister. That's special and something they will share."

Sophie has enormous support from her three sisters and brother. Her sister, Lily, is a sophomore on the JV volleyball team. Jimmy is happy that Lily can focus on volleyball and school with the help of coaches and teachers.

"Lily has this amazing support system in place," Jimmy said.

Pohlman said that this season has been dedicated to giving her a place for Lily to express her feelings and emotions.

"I can't imagine teenagers going through cancer," Pohlman said. "The siblings are going through it on their own as well. Lily has a couple of her best friends who play volleyball, and they've stuck together."

Sophie hasn't been at school this year, but she has been homeschooling during the treatment process.

Watching volleyball has been one of the few ways Sophie has gone out in public since getting treatment. Sophie has been able to watch her sister play from time to time, and Tuesday was one of those days.

Before taking the court Tuesday, several players got the chance to talk about Sophie and share their admiration for the Stanton family.

"The [Stantons] are such kind people, and I love being around them," senior Rebekah Burch said. "I don't think I've heard one bad thing about them."

Burch met Chloe in seventh grade, and the friendship blossomed from there. Burch heard the difficult news of Sophie's diagnosis from Lily during volleyball camp over the summer. It left Burch speechless, and she said she was an emotional wreck.

"You'd never expect to go from just seeing her in the hallways to not," Burch said. "You don't know what you're supposed to do at that moment. I was shocked."

Critchfield has known the Stantons since she was in first grade and said Sophie lights up the room wherever she goes.

"[Sophie] has always been a part of my and Lily's friendship. She's someone I aspire to be because she wants to make everyone happy," Critchfield said.

Critchfield said the volleyball team has been putting the time in to do whatever is needed to care for Sophie.

"It's been cool to see what we can do for this family," Critchfield said.

Being emotional during tough times like this is normal. When setting up for the silent auction, some of the players couldn't help but cry.

For some who haven't dealt with the experience of having a loved one have cancer, the emotional journey can be challenging to navigate.

"I've never known anyone that was seriously diagnosed with it, so it was hard," Critchfield said. "It's hard for me to see my best friend go through that. It's been a lot of emotions and crying."

Hopefully soon, Sophie's treatment will kick her cancer to the curb and those tears of sadness can be replaced with ones of joy as well as smiles and laughs. Until that time, all of those who care for Sophie will remain strong for the 13-year-old.

No doubt Sophie will remain strong, too.