12-year-old Tamaqua girl continues fight against ovarian cancer

er infectious smile and bubbly personality far outshine even the most daunting obstacle that dares stand in her way.

The youthful effervescence that Alexis Jones exhibits even in the face of adversity is seemingly impossible to ignore.

But to say it’s been a long-and-winding road for the 12-year-old Tamaqua girl would only be the tip of the iceberg.

It’s been that way ever since Alexis was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in September.

A sixth-grade student at Tamaqua Area Middle School, Alexis had an 11-inch mass that was removed, as well as the ovary, part of the bowel and the small intestine.

Since then, Alexis has been through three rounds of chemotherapy, finishing up her last session on Christmas Day.

Setback

After Alexis finished up her last session, her parents, Bill and Janet Jones, were notified that the chemotherapy did not work and that Alexis needed an MRI because the cancer had possibly not gone away in the other ovary.

The fallopian tube was removed during surgery, and the right ovary was seen to be enlarged during surgery. Samples were taken and it was found to have cancer cells.

The chemotherapy reduced the size of that ovary from 8 centimeters to 5.1 cm.

“It’s like a roller-coaster ride,” Bill said.

Alexis is scheduled for a biopsy on her right ovary on Monday.

“Hopefully that will tell us if the cancer’s still present, or if it’s dead tissue that’s making the ovary as big as it is,” he said. “We want to believe it’s just dead tissue. That’s what we’re praying for.”

Staying active

While her particular set of circumstances have been difficult to deal with, Alexis continues to stay busy.

Last year, Alexis and her two cousins from West Virginia decided to make and sell beaded rubber band bracelets. They raised $350 that they decided to send to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

This year after her surgery, her cousins called and told Alexis they would raise money for Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Child Life Foundation, Janet said.

“It is a great organization that makes sure kids aren’t bored in the hospital and at chemo, and provides all types of crafts and things to do for the kids,” she said. “She is also making plastic canvas magnets to sell with the bracelets at a spaghetti dinner held for Alexis and Carson Barron at Zion Stone Church.”

Carson, 16, of Tamaqua, was diagnosed in October with osteosarcoma.

The spaghetti dinner will be held for both Alexis and Carson at 3 p.m. Saturday at Zion Stone Church in West Penn Township.

Janet added, “We are also making and donating pillowcases with the help of family, friends and strangers to the fourth-floor children’s wing.”

“Each child that is in the hospital receives a colorful pillowcase to keep,” she said. “Alexis was thrilled by this gesture, and wanted to donate some.”

Janet said the goal is to make 100.

Show of solidarity

Janet said that Bill’s employer, BAE Systems, United Steel Workers Local 7687, of York, as well as her employer, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections at SCI Frackville, along with the Empowerment Committee, the Rec Association, the PA state Corrections Officers Union and Pride Motorcycle Club, “Have all been wonderful to us.”

Alexis said she’s grateful to all those who have stuck by her side.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their overwhelming amount of support,” Alexis said. “Everyone in the Tamaqua Middle School has been a tremendous help to me.”

Specifically, Alexis thanked fellow sixth-grade classmate Emily Kohlmeir, “Because she was always willing to listen to me.”

Janet said the teachers have done all they can since Alexis was diagnosed.

“The teachers have been wonderful,” Janet said. “They come to the house to do her classes.”

Janet said the number of contributions has been outstanding.

“The contributors are much too many to mention, but we would like to thank everyone for their prayers, donations and their time in helping us,” she said.

Bill echoed those thoughts.

“The support has been overwhelming,” he said.

Despite the unfortunate set of circumstances, Bill said the family continues to take it one day at a time.

“We are grateful for the support we’ve been getting,” he said. “We don’t consider ourselves special. We do consider ourselves blessed.”

Bill added, “It’s made our family closer.”