Saturday, May 5th, was unlike any other day on Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Hematology Oncology floor. The beats of Kelly Clarkson’s song “Stronger” rang through the halls as patients sang out the familiar chorus, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…”
Doctors, nurses, parents and patients showed off their best dance moves while harmonizing to the tune with big smiles on their face. Patients held up signs with the words “hope” and “fighter” – all communicating the important message that they are strong.
This fun celebration of strength was thanks to Chris Rumble, a 22-year-old Children’s cancer patient who lives in Kent, Wash., who was recently diagnosed with leukemia in April. Chris had the idea to make a music video to share with his old hockey team in Wenatchee because his teammates had made him a music video for his birthday.
“I’m everyone’s big brother and I have a lot of friends here at Seattle Children’s,” says Chris. “I wanted to make a video to send back to my team and I thought what better way to do it then with the kids on my floor.”
What about the song choice? Chris said that he is a fan of Kelly Clarkson and thought the words were perfect for relating to cancer.
Chris said creating the video was a blast as it was great to see everyone, including doctors, nurses, patients and parents, out in the hallways participating.
“It was not only good to see the kids happy, but it was also great to see how their parents were so happy as they watched their kids just being kids – dancing, singing and having fun,” says Chris. “The kids will also enjoy being able to watch the video forever and share it with their friends and family.”
As for his teammate’s response to the video, “They all think it is awesome and they can’t stop watching it,” says Chris.
Chris’ Story
A promising hockey player on his way to a professional career, Chris Rumble lived in Wenatchee for the past three years where he played for the Wenatchee Wild hockey team. In April, after having swollen glands and being urged by others to visit a doctor, Chris visited a Wenatchee clinic to be tested for mono. That is where he received a leukemia diagnosis. Eight hours later he was at Children’s.
“The diagnosis hit me like a brick wall. I was really worried about playing hockey again but I didn’t have time to be sad because everything just happened so fast,” says Chris. “The hardest part was telling people, especially my mom. She made it easier though as she just said, ‘OK we’ll beat it.’”
Chris is now undergoing about a 6-month treatment plan at Children’s and he will be done with therapy in September, just in time for hockey season to begin in October. Chris will be attending Canisius College where he will play on their hockey team. For Chris, “Going to college is the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Seattle Children’s Not Now Program
Chris’ music video was a part of Children’s Not Now creative arts program for patients with cancer. John Blalock, Children’s Hematology Oncology Artist In Residence, and Mike Attie, Children’s video producer, helped Chris create the video. It was also filmed by Seattle University film students Ben Anderson, Sawyer Purman and Lael Rogers.
The aim of Not Now is to help adolescents and young adults cope with cancer and provide psychosocial support through creative projects and by connecting them with peers. In recognizing that art has the ability to restore a sense of accomplishment and independence that patients often feel has been lost after a cancer diagnosis, the program helps give them a voice in telling their story through a variety of mediums including photography, video and music. John’s artist-in-residence work was originally funded by a grant from LIVESTRONG’s Community Impact Project to replicate The Creative Center’s Hospital Artist-In-Residence Program. Currently, the Not Now program is funded by Seattle Children’s Guild Association Teen Cancer Fund.
Chris’ video is the second creation in the Not Now series, highlighting patients’ unique stories and experiences. The first work in the series, “The Hidden Shadows of Cancer: Photography by Ruby Smith at Seattle Children’s,” documents Ruby’s experience of being a teen with cancer after being diagnosed with Burkitts Lymphoma in August 2011.
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Resources
- Seattle Children’s Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program
- Seattle Children’s Dr. Michael Jensen is developing innovative new immunotherapies for curing childhood cancers that will eventually eliminate the need for chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
- To help teens with cancer cope with the difficulties they face, Seattle Children’s AYA Oncology Program has released a new video series called, “Good Times and Bald Times.” In this unique series, teens with cancer candidly talk about their experiences – from treatments and hair loss, to dealing with school, friends and family.
Love it! So proud of you guys:)
WOW!! You guys are totally awesome.
Bless your hearts! I cried like a baby.
Fantastic. Greatness rarely occurs out of ordinary circumstances.
Awesome!!!!! You all rock!!!!! Keep singing… 🙂
That was AWESOME! You all ROCK!!! Video stars!
Class Act ! Thank you SCH for allowing.helping this video production.
You guys are an inspiration to an entire generation. Your NEVER SAY QUIT attitude is what America is all about. You guys are true HEROs and those professionals that have the honor to work with you everyday are truly blessed individuals.
May this video raise millions for Cancer Research to help you in your fight for a cure.
May God Bless each and every one of you and your families.
More more more! You guys were great.
Bravo to everyone involved! To Chris, patients, crew, staff,and all who participated and supported the making of this video I applaud you. A gift and a blessing. We must always reach for the light in the darkness and find that silver lining that shines. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger..” seen through the lens of a cancer patient is the ultimate lesson in what will serve us best each day: gratitude. Gratitude for the good in every situation. If they can do it we all can.
You are GREAT:) I am from Poland and I watched You today and You make me stronger:)
Like Sue, I cried and cried. These kids and their families are such an inspiration. As are the wonderful people who care for them every day.
Thank you all so very much for sharing this!!! We can all take something from this and apply it in our lives. It gives me hope and inspiration! Thanks to all of your video STARS!!! Love it! We can all be thankful for you having shared this and reminding us that maybe our lives arnt so bad. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU!
Wow! Quite a bit has changed since a worked nights with Hem-Onc kids back in the 1980s. We did nothing that was that much fun, the best event I remember being a birthday party for one little boy. The video brings back a lot of memories, some good and some sad.
Time can hang heavy on your hands in the weeks when you’re recovering from chemo, so this “Not Now” program is an excellent idea.
–Mike Perry, night pediatric aide, Children’s Hospital, circa 1981-1982
I saw this video and the making of this video three times. Most of the people said I cried a lot after saw this video, but I didn’t. I agree this is a very touching video, but I’ve learned a lot from you guys instead cry, I’ve learned to be stronger. Many many thanks for this lesson. I needed it.
I want you know that a well know radio station from Barcelona, Spain has broadcasted your history and your youtube’s video, too. That’s how thousands people in Barcelona knows about you and your incredible attitude. I’m very proud to know that exist people with your attitude. I will follow your example.
Chris Rumble!!! You have several pretty nurses, maybe I should go to visit you. hahahahaha… Good luck my friend. My cousin plays in Spain national Ice hockey team too, so, maybe I’ll see you soon.
hello fantastic video and very exciting … I’m sorry because I have little money … the crisis …. but I will move this video to see if you have luck and someone donates … kisses from Spain …
Thank you so much!! We will be relocating to Seattle Children’s from Arizona for my 1.5 year old daughter to have a bone marrow transplant. I cried watching this only because it was so inspiring. Knowing that the staff has such a great attitude is uplifting to me, and makes me feel more and more like we are making the right choice. Maybe we will get to meet Chris Rumble in a couple of months and will be able to use a way to lift our spirits cause we know we have a hard fight ahead of us!!
Talk about making this “tough guy”, not so tough! You all are soldiers, heroes, warriors, etc…… I love you Abi! Stay strong kiddo…I miss you! Cancer sucks! 🙂
Hey Chris, Mammam used to give you credits for doing good things (or nothing at all!) and you used them to get out of trouble with Dad and Mom. Well I think you just got as many as you can use in this lifetime if you live until 100!
Love you, Mom, Dad, Brandon, Alexa, and Graeson!! Miss you all – the pool’s open!
Thank you to the children, nurses and doctors from the Seattle Children’s Hospital for this. Stay strong! You’ll beat that cancer.
We are all here to support your families, the scientist who spend countless hours looking for a cure, the doctors and nurses who save our children and take care of our weakest moments.
Thank you for this song!
This is wonderful. Chris what an awesome idea, all you guys are amazing. Sending you all love and well wishes from New Zealand.
What a wonderful video! You show the true meaning of that song. I will be showing your video to my students here in Japan. Thank you for sharing the video with us 🙂
I love this video!!! Bravo to the staff, families and patients for sharing this message…STRONGER. One year ago, we lost a dear friend to cancer..she represented all this video talked of. It warmed my heart to see all the smiles! Keep on doing an excellent job.
Thanks guys…What a wonderful gift you have given us…My heart is filled with love and admiration for you and the courage that eminates through the video…My life is forever changed and enriched because of your efforts…Love and blessings from Surprise Arizona !
Finally!
One great nursing movie!! It’s not one of those movies with depressing colors, depressing songs and angels images!!
Just great!
Congratulations!
wow……how inspiring!!! Life is good- keep strong!
God bless you all!
This video is so inspiring. I can’t stop watching it! It both brings tears to my eyes and makes me smile. To all those at Seattle Children’s who are sick, you ARE strong and fighters! And the doctors and nurses are so wonderful. That seems like a very special place, despite illness is what brought you all together. Keep fighting! And know that you are inspiring so many people.
Amazing!!
Thanks for the motivation and determination … AND for sharing it with the world!
All of you guys did a great job! Chris you did a good thing and can I say I think you are super cute 🙂
One of my best friends beat cancer 3 times and I’m going to go with his motto Never Give Up!
All of you guys did a fantastic job. Chris you did a good thing and can I say I think you are super cute 🙂 One of my best friends has beat cancer 3 times and I want share his motto, Never Give Up!
All my best wishes for you guys.
Be strong and “carpe dien”.
Directly from my keyboard in Sao Paulo, Brazil
You are glorious angels who are showing us all that you have so much fight inside of you. We are blessed that you shared your fight in such a beautiful way. Keep on fighting, being stronger – ALWAYS!!
As a one year cancer survIvor I related to every moment of this inspiring video. You go boys
and girls! You will lead us all to victory.
I’m happy to see that the leukemia will not end Chris Rumble’s career. this is another proof of what I’ve discovered in my 15 years of being a hockey addict–hockey people are GOOD people!
HI,
Children are gift of God, So, we should take care them a lot. Thanks for such a great effort.
I love this video, it makes me stronger¡¡¡¡
A survivor myself, one thing I learned is that attitude is everything! You guys have it in abundance!!! Thanks so much for sharing the beauty of strength and courage in the face of so much that’s difficult, painful and frightening!!! Rock On and may grace continue to fill your lives!!!
Wow, go Seattle Children’s Hospital! We are proud of all of you kids with cancer!
What a truly inspirational video. These brave children are the drive behind St. Baldrick’s mission to fund life-saving research and support institutions like Seattle Children’s Hospital. Thank you to the doctors and nurses at Seattle Children’s for fighting childhood cancer along with your incredible patients. Together, let’s Conquer Kids’ Cancer!
A big hug and all best wishes to the kids, families and hospital staff in Seatlle and the rest of the world fighting against cancer. Keep on strong! Regards from Barcelona, Spain.
Awesome! All of you are an inspiration and great to see smiles. I know someday I will visit my local hospitals and hopefully cheer these kids up in my area. Been working on some things and now it’s to to get the funding, put the plan together to create a fun day for the kids.
DK
You guys rock! A truly inspirational video! Thanks for sharing your time with us.
Donella in NC
I Find this soooo inspiring. I have a aunt that cancer.I find it difficult. She has stage three ovarian cancer she found out about 77 days ago. I made sure to keep track. Thanks so much for giving me hope
Fantastic, inspiring and beautiful!
As the MOther of a cancer survivor from Seattle Children’s , you brought back soooo many memories of “livin on the floor”. You also reminded me how lucky we are to NOT be living there today. You can make it too.
We love you ALL and keep you in our prayers……always……..
.”baby” Chase’s mom (he is now 6″2′!!!!)