Recollections of Hannah
by Nicole Standal
04/12/2011
I was recently reading on Facebook about the Hannah Bates Rock Chuck Derby, and I was touched to see the family being proactive about honoring Hannah’s life. I visited the website, and felt compelled to write a little about her.
I went to Hagerman High School with Hannah, though she was about two years older than me. I was one of her secret admirers—and let me tell you, she had quite a few of them. Before cancer, Hannah was just another one of the sweet, pretty girls. Just another “normal” young lady, trying to find her place in her budding life.
One day, there were rumors about cancer and Hannah. It was the sort of thing you almost couldn’t believe. Our principal held an announcement in the Gym, something to stop rumors and give straight facts. He didn’t go into detail, but I recall that she was fighting the cancer and the doctors gave her something like 6 months to live. Since then I haven’t seen documentation to support the 6 months, but that was the general consensus amongst the students.
We were in shock. While I don’t want to say that cancer changed how the school saw her, it most certainly did. Rule number one was be nice to Hanna, she’s got enough crap in her life without you adding to it. Rule number two was do not make a scene about her new leg. I was awed by Hannah, especially how she showed the school ‘Anything you can do, I can do better’. She ran, jumped, and spiked a ball and was always one of our top players. She joked about no longer twisting her ankle, she playfully displayed that she couldn’t stub her toe. When we saw her in the hall, she was full of laughter and smiles and brilliant ideas. Some days—weeks, even—we wouldn’t see her. A few times, people wanted to visit her but her mother had to turn down well-intended visitors because Hannah’s immune system was trashed. We understood, but it saddened us. No one wished to see our new-found star gone so quickly. On bad days, Hannah would go to class and we saw her leaving the hallway to go rest. On these days, the hallway greeting was, “Hey Hannah, it’s great to see you out and about! Go sleep more, you look tired.”
Then she would thank us, and say she was recovering still. Some days I think she should have stayed home, but she didn’t like missing so much school. I think she missed us, too, or at least the people close to her.
The entire year passed, and she was still with us. Over the course of this year, the reasons for the unspoken rules changed. The rules were established out of sensitivity, but they were maintained by pride and reverence. She’d become the Pirate’s treasure, and what a treasure she was! Hannah was our daily mascot, a mascot unique to our school only. She rallied our team up and pushed her teammates harder just by being there. When Hannah was around, the room would perk up and listen and talk more. Even the new 7th graders knew her on sight, an honor even the cheerleaders didn’t have.
We were proud when she graduated early. I couldn’t believe this young woman had defeated the doctors predictions, but more than just that, she elevated herself to team champion, to being a social model, and to being an inspiration for the sort of person you are supposed to be.
My senior year, I saw her standing next to the office in a tee shirt and shorts. I said hello and talked for a minute, I can’t remember if I’d really had a conversation with her in the past but she did remember me. She said she was going to be the coach for the girls volleyball team, and I recall thinking how prestigious that was for a woman so young. The girls did awesome that year, and I think having a coach who had seen life but was still young forged a special connection between them.
I graduated May 2007, and went to USU in the fall. In February, I received a letter from Mom. In it was a newspaper clipping, featuring Hannah’s bright smile and her name in the memorial. I cried right then, before even reading the article. I’d always known she lived on borrowed time. For that matter, I only peripherally knew her. She was the sort of woman who gave you hope beyond hope. She hadn’t survived, she’d thrived. She made a mountain out of the molehill of her life. Hannah was a stunning woman, and she influenced those around her, even those who seem like it had no effect at all. I know she is still loved, and she left a wave of inspiration that death cannot take away…
Hannah was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer when she was 15 years old. It was found in her talus bone, between her heel and her ankle. Hannah thought she had a sprained ankle. It wouldn’t go away. After many trips to the doctor we finally were able to pin point it. It wasn’t a reoccurring sprain, it was Ewing’s Sarcoma, a very rare bone cancer. Her symptoms were fairly mild in the beginning. Hannah was tired more often and she had small lingering headaches, all beginning symptoms of cancer. Had I have known then what I know now.
Hannah immediately started aggressive chemotherapy and radiation to control the cancer. Three months later in April she had her leg amputated just below her knee. Instead of giving up Hannah embraced her “new leg” and immediately started physical therapy. By August she was back on the court playing Volleyball. She continued her Chemo treatments for a full year and participated in sports as often as she could. She did not give up. Hannah continued living a full life regardless of her situation. She was an amazing athlete. She didn’t let her illness define her or hold her back. She went on to play sports for Hagerman High School for the next 3 years. She played volleyball, basketball, track and golf. She took on the challenge to overcome her illness and her impaired physical limits, but in a very short time, there were no limits according to Hannah. She was remarkable. She graduated from Hagerman High School a year early and continued her interest in sports by helping the Hagerman High School coaches with their teams. She later was asked to coach the Jr High Volleyball team. She was honored. Hannah took her job very seriously. She was proud to be a coach and so proud of her team. Hannah had a unique way with everyone. She was able to not only coach these young girls but also help them in other ways. She did all she could for her “girls”. Hannah organized fundraisers for her team to help buy warm ups for them. She wanted the team to be proud to be out on the floor. She always felt that if they were proud and felt good about themselves than they would be able to accomplish anything. That was “Hannah’s Hope”. Hannah passed away on February 9th, 2008 with dignity and a feeling of self accomplishment.
We are so proud that we are able to carry on “Hannah’s Hope” through her and this Foundation. Hannah started this fund 2 weeks before she passed away. She took her savings and started this account and I promised her that we would get the job done for her. Her mission is to give all of our young athletes the chance to participate in sports , be leaders and be proud of who they are. Hannah felt that if it started on “the court” then it would carry on through their lives and make a difference.
It is an honor for us to be able to spread “Hannah’s Hope” throughout the Magic Valley and beyond. In the last few years we have passed it forward to several schools in the Magic Valley and many many athletes and young people. Hannah would be so proud of all us for making her wish come true. Thank you Magic Valley and beyond for your continued support. See you at our next Hannah’s Hope for Life event!
~ Sandee (Hannah’s Mom)
