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Cindy Lange-Kubick: Cancer patient gets night at the prom

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Tuesday, Apr 08, 2008 - 12:37:09 am CDT

Really?

That’s what Adam Field’s friends all said, when he told them who he was taking to his senior prom.

Really?

Story Photo
Palmyra High School senior Adam Field (center), takes seventh grader Brett Christian (right), to the prom Saturday night in Lincoln. (Heidi Hoffman)

And that was the first thing out of his mom’s mouth when he came home from school on a Friday afternoon in March to ask her what she thought.

Really?

The senior at Palmyra High School had been sitting in anatomy class earlier that day when  prom talk came up.

Who you going with, Adam?

I don’t know. I need a date.

Chevy Christian was sitting behind him.

Hey, why don’t you take my sister?

Chevy’s little sister Brett hadn’t been in school all year.

The seventh-grader had leukemia. The bad kind that mostly grown-ups get, with a 30 percent survival rate. Chevy and Adam played on the football team together, and played basketball, and ran track together, and they were good friends.

Adam was last year’s Homecoming king. He was president of FFA. He was a guy everyone liked. But he didn’t have a girlfriend at the moment.

Maybe I will, Adam said.

Chevy figured he was probably kidding.

But Adam went home and told his mom what he was thinking. She knew Brett. The whole town did. When you live in a place like Palmyra everyone is family. They’d gone to bake sales and spaghetti feeds and prayed for her to get well.

The next Monday, Adam sat down by Chevy in Pre-Cal.

So, is it really OK if I take Brett to prom?

And that’s how it was that a 12-year-old girl who loves horses and volleyball went shopping with her mom for a swirly pink and white dress and dark pink sandals.

And then went with her grandma to have her fingernails painted at Wal-Mart.

And  then had her make-up done. Lipstick. Blush. Mascara. Even eyeliner!

And then got pretty tipped toenails, the kind that press-on so it would be easier for the doctors to get her ready for the test on her bone marrow two days after prom —  the test that would let them know if these last chemo drugs were working and moving Brett closer to a bone marrow transplant.

Then she put on a pink scarf to cover her head, instead of her usual baseball cap.

Was she happy to be going to prom?

Oh. Yeah.

“She’s bouncing off the walls,” Brett’s Mom said Friday, the day before prom.

Brett had been at the end of a month-long stay in Room 510 at Children’s Hospital, when her mom asked her about the prom proposal.

“What?! What guy? Which Adam?”

Sure. Of course, she’d like to go.

Last week, they invited Adam over for spaghetti.

Brett’s mom made sure he’d drive safely and be good and have Brett home by midnight or when she got too tired, whichever came first.

And then Saturday came, with wrist corsages and picture-taking and riding in Adam’s dad’s red Mustang, with Chevy and his date, to Shogun.

Then on to prom itself, the hall decorated like Paris, with silver and gold and twinkling lights and marshmallows and strawberries to dip in runny chocolate fondue.

After the picture-taking Adam’s mom got misty-eyed, thinking how honored she was to be his mom.

Brett’s mom thought the same thing.

“He’s a great kid. He had five or 10 other dates he could have gone on and he stepped up to say this is my last prom and I’m taking Brett.”

Brett didn’t get tired Saturday night. She danced the slow dances and the fast dances. She danced with Adam and she danced with all her brother’s friends.

She took off her sandals and danced in her bare feet.

Adam had her home by midnight, and she knocked on her mom’s door to let her know she was back.

Her mom was asleep, so Brett put on her pjs and got in bed.

But Brett couldn’t get to sleep, she was so excited.

So she just lay there for a long time.

Thinking about what a really, really good time she had at her first prom.

Reach Cindy Lange-Kubick at 473-7218 or clangekubick@journalstar.com


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Touched wrote on April 8, 2008 4:16 am:
" I am touched by Adams actions to give this young lady something we all pray she may live to see another, but his heart is huge in my book. Way to go Adam and may God bless Brett as she continues to fight to survive. "

 Wow wrote on April 8, 2008 5:17 am:
" These are the kind of stories that are amazing! Adam, that was something that only true gentlemen do. "

 HowSweet! wrote on April 8, 2008 6:16 am:
" This was so sweet of this young man to take this young lady to prom! It maybe be her only prom as we never know when we will be called home. For her sake I hope she can beat this aweful disease she looks so sweet! Palmyra is a wonderful town and the people do pull together there. "

 Charlie wrote on April 8, 2008 6:42 am:
" Splendid! Thanks for the reminder that we can still grow them strong in Nebraska. Kudos to the parents. "

 Debra wrote on April 8, 2008 7:18 am:
" I think it's great that Adam took Brett to the prom. And I don't think it was just charity on his part. He didn't give up anything of importance to take Brett to the prom, and probably got as much out of the experience as she did. Sounds like a great group of people there in Palmyra.

And now to Brett: My sister had leukemia. She went through her treatments and has been in remission long enough to be considered cured. My prayers go out that you will receive the same outcome. Stay strong! "

 Kevin of Lincoln wrote on April 8, 2008 7:42 am:
" It's nice to see a story about two great kids and a selfless person doing something nice for another. I applaud the Journal star on a great story. "

 Teresa wrote on April 8, 2008 7:57 am:
" What a wonderful thing you did Adam for Brett. This is something neither of you will ever forget. Let's hope Brett can beat this and prove everyone wrong. You are one special person Adam, thank you for making this little girls prom night a huge success. "

 Pam wrote on April 8, 2008 8:44 am:
" I don't know any of these people, but I was born and raised in Nebraska and am now living in Texas. This story touched my heart like no other. I am the mother of 28 and 26 year old boys. I would be so proud of them had they done something so kind and thoughtful as Adam did. What a very special and fun first prom for Brett. This was a very important life lesson for all who witnessed it. God bless you, Brett and Adam. "

 From Adams wrote on April 8, 2008 8:45 am:
" What a great story. Adam you are a remarkable young man. We need more young adults learn from this. And hats off to Lincoln Journal Star for finally finding a HAPPY story. We seem to look for the bad things to talk about in our world so it is good to see a story like this.

Hats off to ADAM you are AWESOME!!! "

 Deb wrote on April 8, 2008 8:50 am:
" It's so good to hear the good things our young people are doing. Adam proved that he is very unselfish and was thinking of someone else. May God give Brett the strength to beat cancer and bless Adam for his warm heart. Thank you Adam. "

 jacky wrote on April 8, 2008 8:56 am:
" What a wonderful young man Adam sounds like. His parents must be very proud of him.
Brett keep thinking positive thoughts and know we are praying for you. "

 Lynne wrote on April 8, 2008 8:58 am:
" Adam, how awesome a young man you are! What a great thing you did for Brett. Adam's parents must be so very proud of the young man they've raised. "

 Nina wrote on April 8, 2008 9:10 am:
" Bless their hearts! Both Adam and Brett probably don't realize it now, but for the rest of their lives, this will be a highlight that gives them a prom experience to glory in, even to their kids and grandkids! What a grand story! "

 Lisa wrote on April 8, 2008 9:32 am:
" I also went to dinner at Shogun Saturday night and saw these kids. They all looked like they were having such a wonderful time. What a great story and inspiring that we are still raising well rounded and well mannered kids. Keep up the good work parents and hang in there Brett!! "

 Diane wrote on April 8, 2008 10:12 am:
" Oh my, very touching and nice to know there are still people out there that care. You rock! "

 Tammy wrote on April 8, 2008 10:15 am:
" What a great reminder that there are still really good things that happen in our communities. It's easy to believe we live in a self absorbed society sometimes, but it's stories like this that remind us all that there are still great people in the world doing great things. Adam, hats off to you for doing a wonderful thing. Brett, my prayers are with you in your fight, hope you get your transplant soon and you have the best possible results. "

 Kudos wrote on April 8, 2008 10:40 am:
" Kudos to all. It shows what great parneting can do and how wonderful your kids turned out!! "

 mom wrote on April 8, 2008 11:21 am:
" Adam sounds like a great guy, I wish my 17 year old daughter could find someone like him! "

 Meg wrote on April 8, 2008 12:08 pm:
" i have never cried reading a news story but this one touched my heart in so many ways. this is a real fairytale story. and I'm sure they all will live happily ever after "

 amazed!! wrote on April 8, 2008 12:30 pm:
" adam is such a great guy taking brett to the prom. she will not forget it! that is truely amazing!! "

 Mike Wachal wrote on April 8, 2008 12:40 pm:
" This is a high school boy that shows the courage and character of truely selfless person. Well done to the parents, and to Adam.....wow, what an inspirational person. You will do well in life!
Mike "

 GMP wrote on April 8, 2008 12:51 pm:
" This must be a wonderful young man. The story brought tears to my eyes (and falling down my face). Thank you Cindy and JS for the story. Thank you Adam for being such a caring young man, and thank you to Adam's parents for raising him to be so wonderful. And to Chevy for caring so much for his sister. And, Brett, best of luck.
If these young people are our future, we have a bright one.
"

 Aemelia wrote on April 8, 2008 12:54 pm:
" Amazing! What a wonderful young man! As a mother to two boys I sure hope I am doing as good a job as Adam's mom did. I am adding Brett to my prayer list.

Just love reading news like this. Thanks Lincoln Journal Star! "

 Touching wrote on April 8, 2008 1:20 pm:
" Wow. I was so touched by this story & in awe of these 2 amazing kids. It was so nice to see that there is good in the world & that selflessness still exists. This is also a very nice welcome break from the Nebraska state fair debate, increased prices & taxes, loss of jobs in the area, etc. I realize that these things are reality but I think people are starving to see something like this that actually touches the soul. Thanks Cindy for reporting on this. "

 Very Nice wrote on April 8, 2008 3:11 pm:
" Great gentleman and great story! Kudos! I wish a speedy recovery for Brett! "

 jan wrote on April 8, 2008 3:51 pm:
" what a wonderful story. so many of our young cancer patients miss so much on a daily basis with treatments, dr. appts., and just not feeling well enough to do anything except maybe get out of bed. I'm so glad Brett got to go to prom, I know it's something she'll always remember.

God Bless! "

 Where's my "Adam" wrote on April 8, 2008 4:14 pm:
" Why can't there be more "Adam's" in the world. I am touched. As a 26 year old woman, I only hope that I can find my "Adam" one day! His kindness is truly genuine!! "

 W.G.Jones wrote on April 8, 2008 6:20 pm:
" What a great story. Thank you for the reporting, great job, especialy since this story took up space that another child molestation, female assult, or like story could have taken up. How wonderful to read such a heart warming act by 2 wonderful young people. Maney happy returns, love and prayers to both of you "

 Cindy Bangert wrote on April 9, 2008 8:13 am:
" After seeing girls beat each other on the Today Show, it's nice to read about a senior taking a 12 year old to his last prom. It shows that there still are some wonderful youth in the teen generation. Adam, I hope my son grows up to be like you. "

 btownie wrote on April 9, 2008 11:17 am:
" Adam- you have been given so many blessings in life, I'm so glad to see that you are sharing them with other people, That is a huge gift in itself, the fact that you can see others needs.
Chevy- The fact that you even realised that this would mean the world to your little sister is amazing, you will someday be a great father.
Brett- You are a very strong young lady, I hope that you take the memory of the joy that you had that night into your treatment and use it to help fight your cancer, keep that joy for life close at hand when things get tough.
parents and all involved with this- The joy that you give another is always given back to at an even greater rate, Congratulations on giving so much. "

 j wrote on April 9, 2008 1:51 pm:
" That's awesome! God bless you both. "

 Jim Tibbels wrote on April 9, 2008 3:39 pm:
" Great story. Great kid. High school kids like Adam make me proud to be from this great state. Restores faith in our youth. Thanks for sharing! "

 Ann Kasselder wrote on April 10, 2008 1:05 pm:
" When I heard about Adam and Brett going to the prom I understood what a special young man Adam had grown up to be. Adam is my sister's grandson and we are very proud of Adam making Brett's day and letting her know how special she is. God Bless you Brett for making Adams prom special too. "

 Peggy Payne wrote on April 11, 2008 10:16 am:
" You rock, Adam! Brett, hang in there. You'll be in our prayers. "

 Dawn Buman wrote on April 11, 2008 3:11 pm:
" Thank You Adam for showing such human kindness. If only all kids your age could get on board with the thought that it only takes one to make a difference. Bless you. "

 Pam Bygness wrote on April 12, 2008 10:48 am:
" With people like Adam in this world only good things can happen. God bless you Adam and Brett; and Brett you go girl, you are beautiful! "

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