MARCUS ANTHONY WHITE 8/25/1998 – 3/6/201 Maybe you knew him the short time he lived here in Sumter. Maybe he went to school with your children or your grandchildren. Maybe you were friends with his parents. If not, this is Marcus White. Born and raised in northern Ohio until the age of 9, Marcus was shy and quiet in school. But at home and family gatherings he was the life of the party. He was quick witted, full of energy, and inquisitive; always asking questions. Upon moving to Sumter in 2007, he overcame his shyness and became an outgoing young man. He had this magnetic personality that drew people to him. He embraced new friends enthusiastically and enjoyed spending time with them. He became an avid X-box video game player, playing on-line with his friends and his brother and playing Minecraft on the computer. Air soft gun wars and paintball became a pastime as well. He was a member of Boy Scouts and was working towards becoming an Eagle scout. He participated in the youth activities and dances at church, and was learning the game of basketball from one of his good friends. Marcus had dazzling blue eyes with a mop of curly brown hair. At the age of 15, he was a handsome young man. Unfortunately, just days after his 15th birthday, Marcus started feeling strange. It started with no strength in his right arm to him not being able to walk correctly. The doctor sent him to the ER where a CT scan was performed presumably checking for a pediatric stroke. The test was negative. As days went on new symptoms appeared. He didn’t want to eat or drink, he just wanted to sleep. His appointment with a neurologist brought on the discussions of suspected MS. Marcus underwent an MRI that afternoon and when the doctor himself called a few hours later, we knew it was not good news. The MRI showed a lesion as suspected. The concern was the location of that tumor…it was on the brain stem, that which serves a critical role in regulating certain involuntary actions of the body, including heartbeat and breathing. A week later, Marcus went from the children’s hospital in Columbia to the children’s hospital in Atlanta where a very tricky biopsy was performed to determine the type of tumor that had invaded Marcus. More bad news. The tumor was a Glioblastoma Multiforme. This tumor grows like a vine…making it inoperable. It was a terminal diagnosis. When Marcus learned this news, he was already on a ventilator because the tumor had already shutdown his involuntary breathing. A tumor was also found in the cervical spine which rendered him paralyzed. Still…he wanted to fight. So, six weeks of radiation to slow the progress of the tumor and so many prayers that the tumor would just disappear, he returned to Sumter and was able to have his friends visit. 6 months after the diagnosis, March 6, 2014, Marcus won his battle with cancer. Never take for granted the blessings you have been given. Cancer knows no boundaries, does not discriminate based on age, religion, the color of skin nor gender. Our prayers are that soon there will be a cure or a complete eradication of this dirty disease. Marcus lives on in the memory of those that knew him, hopefully now he will live on in yours. Thank you for supporting me and the more than 300,000 kids worldwide who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. By sharing the gifts of your time, talent and money with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, you're supporting research to give all kids with cancer a better chance for a cure.