Episode 8
[00:00:00] Vince: [00:00:00] all right. Welcome back. Summit's podcast, episode eight. We are joined by Tatum park. Hello. 
[00:00:17] Tatum: [00:00:17] Thanks for joining us today. Thank you for having me 
[00:00:19] Vince: [00:00:19] average age in the room just came down feeling pretty good about it. I mean, I actually brought down. Thank you for bringing the chronological age down. We appreciate that.
[00:00:29] Of course. Um, school's 
[00:00:31] Tatum: [00:00:31] out, school's out summertime for the summer. Yeah. What are you gonna do? I have Tempe kind of working two jobs. Um, I have an internship I'm actually at Riley working for like an undergraduate research program. Working with some of my old doctors on some things. Um, so I'm excited about that.
[00:00:50] And then I'm nannying two days a week also. So kind of getting the best of both worlds. I'm working for my internship three days a week Manning two days a week. Yes, my [00:01:00] neighbor who I, okay. They live like three houses down from me. I've nannied for them. They have two boys. Um, I've named it for them in the past, like five summers.
[00:01:06] And so it's pretty easy at this point. They're old enough. I'm kind of just giving them rides places, keeping them entertained, taking them out. So it's fun. Yeah, which is possible. My dad, but one of them is the same age as my youngest brother. And so they hang out all the time. They come over to swim. It's a really, it's a nice kick to have 
[00:01:24] Vince: [00:01:24] so nice.
[00:01:26] Yeah. Sophomore year in the books. Yes. How was, I think I know the answer, but I got to ask it anyway. How was sophomore year at you in a pandemic 
[00:01:35] Tatum: [00:01:35] pandemic? Not awful but not great. Um, I use very strict about a lot of things. Obviously keeping the gathering limit size way down, um, stuff like that. Obviously I had a lot of first semester, all of my classes were remote.
[00:01:52] I did all of them online. Um, luckily I lived in a house off campus with some of my sorority sisters. That was so when you did everything online, you were still [00:02:00] implemented in Bloomington. It was really nice. Um, and we had a house, so we were able to kind of do our own thing. Um, that was very helpful.
[00:02:08] Second semester I had at least one class every day that was in person. Um, so that made it feel a little bit more normal, but it still, wasn't still, wasn't great. During the first semester, 
[00:02:17] Vince: [00:02:17] did you see a lot of people leave and just go 
[00:02:19] Tatum: [00:02:19] home? Yeah, a lot of people actually did. I think a lot of freshmen, um, especially in the dorms, I felt so bad for the freshmen.
[00:02:25] They were not allowed to go to anyone else's dorm. Um, they were really cooped up in their rooms and I felt awful for them. And a lot of them didn't have in-person classes. So I think a lot of them did. Kind of packed up and left and they were 
[00:02:36] Vince: [00:02:36] restricted to their dorm and like the cafeteria kind of thing.
[00:02:39] Wow. So a small room to be stuck in for 
[00:02:43] Tatum: [00:02:43] it. A lot of them of course, would like go to other people's dorms, but it was a whole, like three strikes you're out type of situation. So if they got caught more than once in other people's dorm rooms or doing stuff, um, they would get in trouble. So yeah, at that point, well, I didn't really want to put some 
[00:02:58] Vince: [00:02:58] kind of curtails the [00:03:00] late night study sessions.
[00:03:01] Yeah. Yeah. I'm I spend a lot of time with the library when I was in Wilmington. 
[00:03:07] Tatum: [00:03:07] We still, we made the most of it. We did what we could. Had fun regardless, we kept calling it tiny fund. Cause you know, we had to keep things small for the most part, but yeah. 
[00:03:17] Vince: [00:03:17] Yeah. How did that work in the house then? Is that your room or did the house kind of operate as its own kind of like ecosystem where you guys were all kind of quarantined together at that 
[00:03:26] Tatum: [00:03:26] point?
[00:03:26] I mean, it was nice because it was me and four other girls. And so, um, As in my roommates, I actually never got COVID, but my roommates got it. Like the first week we got there, like just right off the bat, we think one of my roommates might have gotten it in and yeah. And had had it when she got to school, because all of us had gotten tested when we got there.
[00:03:47] And all of the people we had seen up to that point had all been tested and everyone had tested negative at that point. So we think she might've gotten an indie, but, um, we had to quarantine for two weeks, like the flu, literally the first two weeks at school. Um, but it was nice [00:04:00] cause that we didn't have to anymore.
[00:04:01] Yeah. And then we just hung out for two weeks, got to know each other. And after that we were good. So that was. 
[00:04:09] Vince: [00:04:09] That's my quarantine to really get to know somebody in every, every aspect. So June is you're well aware is sarcoma and bone cancer awareness month. Um, that's when this, this is going to go out and hit the airwaves and the, uh, the YouTube as we'd like to call it.
[00:04:28] Uh, so, uh, Tatum Parker, tell us what is your cancer story? 
[00:04:32] Tatum: [00:04:32] Yes. Um, well, my cancer story dates back to July, 2006. Um, just a couple of weeks before my sixth birthday. Um, I woke up, I had been complaining of knee pain for awhile, um, just on and off, but we didn't really think much of it. And there was one morning when I woke up and I couldn't walk and I was freaking out of course.
[00:04:53] Six year old little girl. I was very spooked as to what was going on. Um, and we immediately went [00:05:00] to the emergency room, which was not very far from our house. Luckily, um, I remember crying in the emergency. I don't remember much, but I remember crying in the emergency room being asked what my pain level was and pointing to like an eight, because I was like, hi, I don't want to point to 10, but it really hurts.
[00:05:15] I can't walk. Um, and. I think they like put me under at that point. I, they did all the, all the scans, all the things they could do. Um, was 
[00:05:24] Vince: [00:05:24] it pain from putting pressure on it or you couldn't bend at the 
[00:05:27] Tatum: [00:05:27] knee or pressure? From what I remember? Um, just like not being able to stand on it. I remember waking up, um, I would wake up in the middle of the night, randomly in the months before or the weeks before.
[00:05:39] Um, I would wake up randomly just with pain, like. It would just like wake me in my sleep. And I would like limp into my parents' room and be like, my leg hurts. And then they let me sleep with them. They'd be like, she's fine. And I'll wake up in the morning and it would be gone for the most part. Um, but this time I woke up, I think in the morning, early morning with like a lot of pain and I [00:06:00] like tried to stand up and wasn't going, I wasn't gone very well for me.
[00:06:04] Um, but yeah, so the doctor came in and basically. It's cancer. We think there's a huge mass. Um, and it was in my femur. And so. Obviously the tumor in my femur was pulling on muscles that were affecting my name. Um, so within a couple of days, I was at Riley and I was, they had, did a biopsy to figure out what kind of cancer it was.
[00:06:26] And it was Ewing sarcoma, um, which is a pretty rare form of cancer and it's most common in teenage boys. So that was quite interesting cause I was a six year old girl at the time. Um, but yeah, immediately right into Q. I think I had about 13 rounds of chemo my first time and over the course of a year, um, I would go in for two days, which was one night and they would give me one type of chemo that I remember would make me puke every time I got it.
[00:06:53] And then they would, I'd have like two weeks off and then I'd go back in for four days or four nights. Um, and that chemo [00:07:00] didn't make me feel too horrible. Um, but that was the cycle that I went on for about a year. Um, did 
[00:07:06] Vince: [00:07:06] you. Before chemo started or they want to do 
[00:07:08] Tatum: [00:07:08] chemo on night. Don't I think it was after a certain amount of rounds of chemo.
[00:07:13] They did surgery and they removed six inches of my femur. Um, replaced it with a metal rod and our metal plate. And that's actually, this is one of the reasons we had thought that it might've come back a second time. Um, cause it did later. Spoiler alert comes back. I got six inches of my femur removed. And for some reason I still don't know why.
[00:07:41] Um, but right after my plate broken half, and it was like, after I had. Gotten I had recovered enough where I was walking again. And I just remember I scooters, there was a marsh grocery store near my house. Um, and I scooted to the grocery store on a razor scooter with my dad. And I remember coming [00:08:00] home and being again, unable to walk and I was like, it hurts to put pressure on it.
[00:08:04] I can't walk and. So we went back to the hospital the next day and they did an x-ray and my plate was literally snapped right down the middle, right in half that's crazy. 
[00:08:15] Vince: [00:08:15] Yeah. Yeah. You just can't, they don't 
[00:08:18] Tatum: [00:08:18] snap. They don't break. And that's what my doctor was like. I've never, we've never seen this before.
[00:08:22] Um, she's really fast, really fast. And 
[00:08:25] Vince: [00:08:25] my leg press like 1200 pounds 
[00:08:28] Tatum: [00:08:28] trying to bulk up after laying in bed for so long. I needed to get back up. But, yeah, so I had to have that surgery redone, so they took that plate out, obviously placed it with another one. Um, and they didn't do my last chemo treatment because they were like with the surgery and everything, they were like, we're just going to be done.
[00:08:49] Be done with chemo. Okay. So they didn't do my last chemo treatment. And then about a year and a half later, um, they would scan, I'd go back every [00:09:00] three months and they would scan my leg and check on everything. And they would also scan my lungs because Ewing sarcoma is known for coming. Numerous times, but when it's in the leg, for some reason, it tends to come back in the lungs.
[00:09:13] And so they would scan my lungs every time I went. And so that was, we were very lucky that they did that because it did come back and it came back in my lungs. Um, and they were doing a lung scan. And my doctor, I remember he called me in, we did, I did a CT scan of my lungs and he said, come back here for a second.
[00:09:32] And I go back into like the scanning room where he can see all the scans up on the wall. He's zoomed in super, super, super close. He was like in an N N he goes, do you see that little tiny dot right there? I said, yeah. And he goes, well, that could be, you know, it could be scar tissue from, I had a central line, so there was some scar tissue going on up here.
[00:09:51] I said it could be scar tissue, but we don't know. And it's super small. I just wanted you. All I wanted you to see was how small this little.is. It's so small. I can barely see it. Um, but [00:10:00] I think we're going to need to do some like a biopsy and see what this is. And so then of course, we met the doctor after the scans and he was like, I showed her on the scan, little dot, um, super small we're into a biopsy, did a biopsy.
[00:10:13] They called, um, on Thanksgiving day, 2008. So this was. Little over two years later after my first diagnosis. And they said , it's back. Um, it's in her lung, right lung. So we're going to go ahead, start back up with treatment. Um, this time they said they were going to outpatient, they switched a lot of things around for me to make me way more comfortable.
[00:10:35] They, um, had me do outpatient and so I would go for five days. I'd go Monday. I think it was Monday through Friday. Um, would do outpatient. I'd be there for. 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM about, um, and they would mix my chemo. So the one that made me sick and the one that made me not sick, they mixed them together so that I wouldn't get sick anymore.
[00:10:55] Cause they were like, we know that this, you know, she had bad effects with first time around and we [00:11:00] want to fix that. Whatever. So I'd go for a week, two weeks off, go for a week, two weeks off, did that for another year. Also had radiation done on my lungs, um, which ended up not being great for me. Um, but they did regular radiation, which is where they radiate the entire lung.
[00:11:16] Um, and I had about 10 rounds of that, I think. And then I also had 13 rounds. Proton beam radiation, which is where they really narrow in just on where the tumor spot is. And again, fortunately, there was a proton beam radiation center in Bloomington, right. So I would go my mom and I would drive down to Bloomington, um, every day and I'd get my proton beam radiation done.
[00:11:39] Um, had my lungs collapsed at one point, which was really scary. I was rushed to the ER, when I had to stay in the ICU for a couple of days, my lungs just like completely shriveled. Um, so I saw a lot of breathing, breathing problems because of that. Um, but yeah, they, I finished all my treatments, I think, around.
[00:12:00] [00:12:00] Toper, maybe I could be saying this so wrong, um, of oh 9 0 9. Okay. Yeah. So I was re I was diagnosed in November of oh eight and then finished about a year later and I've been cancer free ever since. So I think it was the 
[00:12:16] Vince: [00:12:16] radiation, the proton beam therapy. Was that part of the original plan or was that to, to start some point after the chemo had already started?
[00:12:25] Tatum: [00:12:25] That is a good question. Remember, I'm pretty sure I had already been doing chemo for a little while before we started radiation. And then I think I might've done a couple of rounds of chemo after the radiation therapy was done. Yeah. 
[00:12:38] Vince: [00:12:38] From my experience as well. I remember them because my tumor was in my chest and they, they didn't want to have to do radiation if they, if they could avoid it.
[00:12:46] Um, so that's why I'm just curious. Cause you know, the, the potential side effects and long-term effects of 
[00:12:52] Tatum: [00:12:52] yeah. That's definitely not great. Long-term. I have a lot of, you know, [00:13:00] Oregon. I have to go back still every year and get echocardiograms and get my lungs checked out and get everything. You know, make sure everything's still working.
[00:13:12] Um, cause it definitely can have a lot of bad side effects, but I think Ewing sarcoma is known to come back a lot of times and they wanted to make sure they nipped it in the butt when they had it since it was so small and it's very, it can be very aggressive and it can spread pretty quickly, um, all around the body.
[00:13:28] And so I think they were just, he needed to make sure. Yeah. 
[00:13:33] Vince: [00:13:33] Yep. So that's November of oh nine. Um, how often were you going back to for checkups? 
[00:13:38] Tatum: [00:13:38] I, it was kind of a gradual, they like gradually took me out. So it was, it would be every three months for a year, every five months for a year. Every six months or?
[00:13:47] No, it was 3, 4, 5, 6, and then now it's every year. Okay. So every year it went up another month where I would have to go back less and less, right? No. When 
[00:13:56] Vince: [00:13:56] you hit that five year mark, I mean, everyone's a little bit [00:14:00] different. Did they. Hey, they say, say you're cured. And did they give you the opposite? Hey, we still want to see you every year or you can it's up to you.
[00:14:08] You don't have to, at that point. 
[00:14:10] Tatum: [00:14:10] Um, we, I don't, they didn't really give me the option, um, with everything. I mean, with everything, um, they still see me every year and like, like I said, they have to check my heart and I have checked my lungs and do all sorts of, I have like fertility issues. So they have to check my hormones every time I go back.
[00:14:27] Um, and so they have. Keep keep that up. But they did say at five years, they were like, now you're officially you're in remission, technically I think until five years. And then cancer-free so. Okay, good. You're no, yeah. You're all good now. Yeah, I think I 
[00:14:42] Vince: [00:14:42] probably would. I mean, based on what you just said, I would probably agree with the wall.
[00:14:45] What's the annual yeah. Checking 
[00:14:47] Tatum: [00:14:47] with that. Yeah. Definitely. Some things they want to keep an eye on, right. That's for sure. 
[00:14:51] Vince: [00:14:51] I've got a few picks from the, uh, the early years. I'm going to throw up that you were kind enough to share with us. Um, that's diagnosis. 
[00:14:58] Tatum: [00:14:58] That was the day that was, [00:15:00] uh, July 19th. I mean, you look 
[00:15:02] Vince: [00:15:02] super 
[00:15:03] Tatum: [00:15:03] excited.
[00:15:03] Yeah. Picture. I remember my mom took that picture because it was my it's my uncle's birthday. It was also just my mom's brother. And she would always be like, oh, uncle Greg, he's such a weenie. He would never, he would never get an IV in his arm. You look so strong compared to him. He's. Like he's whatever he's gonna think.
[00:15:23] You're so brave. And it's his birthday. So let's take this picture. 
[00:15:28] Vince: [00:15:28] Greg. Greg is a weenie. The record state, her uncle Greg is a fraternity brother of mine. That's 
[00:15:35] Tatum: [00:15:35] the reason why I say that first time. So it was on him. It was on Greg's birthday. That's that's that this picture is way to go, Greg. Thanks, uncle Greg.
[00:15:43] We like to remind him, 
[00:15:46] Vince: [00:15:46] go ahead and flip to. Photo two there. Yeah. 
[00:15:50] Tatum: [00:15:50] Yeah. So that was outpatient. So this was the second time this was when it was in my lung. Um, I just remember that because I had to sit in a chair when it was an outbreak and when I was an outpatient photo. Um, [00:16:00] so yeah, I was sitting in getting chemo.
[00:16:02] I would play with a bunch of toys. We always had a bag of stuff. 
[00:16:07] Vince: [00:16:07] Oh, like a larger room with other patients. So 
[00:16:10] Tatum: [00:16:10] yes. Well, the old hospital before they built the Simon family tower, which is incredible by the way, I've gone back and visited, uh, numerous times. And I'm very jealous that it looks like that because when I was in treatment, this in particular was outpatient.
[00:16:27] And so I said, In one of those chairs essentially. And there was curtains around me and then behind the curtain was another patient getting chemo. And it was just a big room that was like the whole perimeter of the room was just chairs and curtains. Yeah. And then the nursing station was in the middle, so we could see all the nurses and they would come in and out, and there was a little TV behind every curtain, but it was literally, we were just divided by.
[00:16:53] Yeah. That's exactly what it was. And then, um, for inpatient, it was. There were some rooms where it was two [00:17:00] patients in a room. So it was a very small room, I would say, not much bigger than the room we're in now. And it was two beds curtain in between, and it didn't matter what they were doing. They were giving you chemo.
[00:17:10] I mean, it was the oncology floor. So of course we were all getting chemo, but it was, we definitely knew what was going on at next door. When the doctor would come in and talk to each patient, there was not a lot, my glamorous 
[00:17:21] Vince: [00:17:21] like community room as I call it was. Fairly early in the treatment. And one of the drugs, I don't know if it was the same one, but you just could tell, like every time they administered, it was like, well, that didn't go down real well and noses, I don't want to say forced treatment out of 15 or whatever it was.
[00:17:38] Um, nurse had done it and, um, Yeah, you may want to get a bucket and no sooner did she go to do to get that. And I just like all over myself and I just kind of look up and there's, you know, a dozen people all around. No, no curtains. Yeah. 
[00:17:54] Tatum: [00:17:54] Sweet. Yeah, that was also the best one. You were like nauseous and not feeling very well.
[00:17:59] And [00:18:00] you could hear the person directly next to you. You're like fighting and you're like, oh, great, crazy. I hear them doing it. I don't know if I should go for it. Smells were also a huge, I, oh my, I could not smell certain things without vomiting or wanting to vomit. And it was, you know, and then the person next to you is like, I really want McDonald's for lunch today.
[00:18:20] And their parents would go get them McDonald's and then you're sitting there. Like really holding it back because you that smell other McDonald's. Yeah, exactly. 
[00:18:29] Vince: [00:18:29] Yeah. When I walk into a hospital now, regardless of which one, they all kind of have that sanitized smell to them. Yeah. It does. It makes me get nauseous, but it's it, it stirs 
[00:18:41] Tatum: [00:18:41] something.
[00:18:41] Yeah. Yeah. The hand sanitizer they put on before they come in the room, that's still okay. That's me. 
[00:18:46] Vince: [00:18:46] Yeah. That and tequila. That's a 
[00:18:50] Tatum: [00:18:50] different story. 
[00:18:51] Vince: [00:18:51] So flip to the next pick, if you would, Chris. Yeah. So this is a, this is a picture that never gets old. Uh, seeing seen folks ringing the bell. Yeah. [00:19:00] I mean, well, 
[00:19:01] Tatum: [00:19:01] obviously great.
[00:19:03] But, um, we also joke that this is, I mean, not a great joke to make, but we do make the joke that I never rang the bell the first time. Um, I don't remember why. I don't remember if we just got caught up in something or if I got like an award, they give you a certificate that says. Last chemo treatment, whatever.
[00:19:22] But, um, I never officially rung the bell. So we were like, we would joke with my nurses and be like, it's your fault that it came back a second time because you didn't let me. Right. Right. Um, but yeah, so I did get during the valve the second time, which was great. Took pictures with all my nurses, had my little metal on, got my award, hung it in my room was very excited about that.
[00:19:45] I liked, I liked 
[00:19:46] Vince: [00:19:46] her style too. 
[00:19:47] Tatum: [00:19:47] Yeah. Life was a lot easier without heroin, but think about it. I think about it wearing wigs. That was the other thing I was obsessed with Hannah Montana. I was, you know, [00:20:00] six, eight year old girl, um, loved Hannah Montana, but loved that she could change her identity with a wig.
[00:20:05] Right. Thought that was the coolest thing ever. And so I had wigs of various hair colors that I would change out and be different people. Now I think today, those legs, there 
[00:20:15] Vince: [00:20:15] you go. Yeah. That'd be a site that would look creepy as hell. Yeah. We'll have to make it happen. Okay. One day, you'll just walk in here and there'll be just like form wigs, like set up on the table and we'll just have you yeah.
[00:20:28] Yeah. 
[00:20:29] Tatum: [00:20:29] Anywhere identity 
[00:20:31] Vince: [00:20:31] hit a different level. All right. So great day ringing the bell second time through, um, take us, take us through the, through the next couple months or the next year or so after that, when, when things started to happen in terms of. Yeah, I want to do something about this. What, what triggered everything and what was that process?
[00:20:53] Tatum: [00:20:53] Yeah. Um, well, I actually started, um, my organization. I'm assuming that's what we're running. [00:21:00] Um, I started that before I was diagnosed the second time. Okay. So it was actually during the first time that all the ideas kind of started to stir. Um, but when I was first diagnosed, I received. A lot of gifts. Um, I think when, especially kids are first diagnosed, you know, we get cookies sent to our house and we got various gifts and little gift baskets and family, friends would drop stuff off.
[00:21:27] Or if I would have a surgery, they would come and bring stuff. Um, which we were always so grateful for. And I was so appreciative and loved everything I received and, um, was just so grateful for that outpouring of support that we. After my first diagnosis, but, um, I remember one night receiving this huge box in the mail and I opened it and there was this big purple backpack with stuff falling out the top, falling out the sides.
[00:21:55] And I opened it and I. I was taken aback by everything inside. There was [00:22:00] craft kits that I played with and did for so long. I had a pink game boy, that was the big, big gift in the backpack. Um, that I brought every single time I went and played all the different game board games and it was pink. So that was really cool.
[00:22:15] Um, and just so much stuff there, even a couple of gifts from my little brothers, um, who were very young at the time and we were so grateful and found out that it came from. Like a friend of a friend. My dad's I think if I'm getting this con connection, correct. It was my dad's friend from high school.
[00:22:33] It's next door neighbor in Colorado, uh, started this thing called the Gabby cross foundation where they would give out backpacks to kids, diagnosed with cancer in Colorado. And it was in memory of Gabby Kraus who passed away at the age of five. I'm pretty sure from cancer and her mom started this organization.
[00:22:52] And Gabby would bring a backpack every time she would go into treatment with all of her favorite things in it, for her to do while she was there. And [00:23:00] so her mom started giving out these backpacks and had heard about me and my story and my family and graciously sent me a backpack in the mail. And, uh, Loved it took it every single time I went into treatment used every single thing that was in the bag.
[00:23:15] And when we were in the hospital, we noticed a need and you know, around Christmas time they come around and they bring you gifts around Christmas. And I remember the 4th of July, they brought some 4th of July gifts around and you know, it's always like around big holidays that they would. Yes to the oncology patients.
[00:23:34] And there were a lot of kids who were not there during those times. So, I mean, those kids didn't get gifts and they didn't get whatever was handed out during that time. And, um, we would notice a lot of kids that were there completely by themselves alone. You know, every family situation is different. They had S uh, siblings at home that needed to be taken care of.
[00:23:55] They had parents that had to work two jobs in order to pay their medical bills. They had. [00:24:00] All sorts of, they lived four hours away, five hours away, and their parents couldn't commute every time that they had to get treatment done. And there were kids that were in there for weeks at a time, completely alone at the age of five at the age of six.
[00:24:11] And I would often share my things with them. I this pink game boy, that I was very proud of. Um, I remember. Vividly this little boy, I think he was eight at the time and I was six and he was in the room next door. And I remember one of my nurses came in and she was running behind and she was like, oh, I'm so sorry.
[00:24:30] You know, I'm trying to entertain this little boy. I feel so bad. He's been here so long and he's all by himself. And he's so bored with at the time. I mean, they have definitely upgraded the hospital rooms now, but at the time it was literally you and the TV that got a couple channels that were on cable or whatnot.
[00:24:47] And she was like, he's been here for so long. He has literally nothing in his room. And I was like, here, take my game. Boy, I have some, I have some boy games. I was like, here's some Mario games and froggy or whatever it was [00:25:00] called. And I was like, he'll play with this for a little bit. And he wrote me this long.
[00:25:04] Thank you note saying. And I never met him, but he was in the room next door. And he wrote a thank you note, just saying that like, you know, thank you for letting me use your gamble. I really appreciated it, whatever. And it was kind of around then that we thought of the idea of giving out backpacks of our own to patients because my family and I were obviously very gracious for the hospital for everything, for obviously saving my life and for everything they did.
[00:25:29] And, um, we saw this need of so many kids that. Needing something to do something that they could do while they were in hospital bed for long periods of time. And so we started doing Tatum's bags of fun is what it was called at the time. And we started in August of 2008 is when we gave out our first bag August 1st.
[00:25:52] And we would. You know, the Gabby cross foundation sent us backpacks at first because they were sponsored by a backpack company at the time [00:26:00] and they would send us backpacks and we would go and fill them up. And we just started handing them out. And we had, um, family, friends that were donating to us and we had.
[00:26:13] You know, some good community support. It took a minute to get us on our feet, but we started doing it and we started just doing it at Riley. And then once we were able to, we expanded to Peyton Manning and now every child that's diagnosed with cancer and Indiana has to filter through one of those main hospitals in Indianapolis in order to specifically like receive a treatment or whatever they have to filter through, I guess, to like check to make sure they're getting the right treatment at other various hospitals across the state.
[00:26:40] And so we know that we're here. All the kids that are being diagnosed, um, as they filter through. And so we would get a list from the nurses at the hospitals, with the age and gender of every child that was diagnosed within that month. And we would go get all this stuff, fill up the backpacks and deliver them.
[00:26:57] Um, and we've been doing that. Yeah. [00:27:00] Since August, 2008. So. 
[00:27:02] Vince: [00:27:02] Yeah, which is awesome. Yeah. How do you know how many backpacks to date you guys have delivered 
[00:27:08] Tatum: [00:27:08] about a little over 4,000 now? So a lot, we normally, we average 350 every year, which is really sad. Meaning that 300, about 350 kids in just the state of Indiana alone are diagnosed every year is, um, heartbreaking, but that's why we do it.
[00:27:29] And we recently. Continuing that on, um, in 2017, we rebranded as the Tatum Parker project, which is what we are now. And we have, yes, there's the logo. It looks good. Thank you. We, um, my dad was like, you know, you're older now, so it's 2017. So I just turned 17 and my dad was like, you know, we need to, we need to upgrade.
[00:27:50] We not only need to like, have something that's a little more mature because we're going to keep doing this as I went into college, which we have. Um, but we wanted to add. Some more [00:28:00] little things onto it. And so now we obviously raised money for pediatric cancer research in particular, um, because pediatric cancer research only receives, I think it's 4% of all federal money.
[00:28:14] That's like given to cancer research. Only 4% goes to pediatrics. And so obviously we believe that that's really low of a number for children, especially when they're the future. And so we. Raise money and raise awareness for pediatric cancer research as 
[00:28:30] Vince: [00:28:30] well. Awesome. Yeah, that, that's, that's a good call cause you're right.
[00:28:34] I think, I think it's 4% it's in that neighborhood. It's shockingly low. Yeah. And what, I don't know that there are occasional research projects that are kind of, um, You know, not specific to adult or pediatric, that kind of crosses both spectrums. And I'd be curious to know how, what are they designated? Do they designate that as non pediatric or not?
[00:28:54] I would venture to guess. Um, so that may skew the numbers a little bit, but regardless either way, it's still [00:29:00] it's sub 10%. Yes. Too low, too low. So when, what year was the very first bag delivered? 2008, 
[00:29:08] Tatum: [00:29:08] 2008. That's right. So it was August 1st, 2008 is when we delivered our first bag and we delivered it to a girl.
[00:29:14] Um, I had actually been in treatment with, um, and she had been rediagnosed as well. And so we gave her the first bag. I remember it. Um, here it is. Yeah. That's the first bag it's shiny. Yeah. So there's and then behind is the curtain. So there's, you know, there's her side and then right behind the curtain was another patient, but that was the first bag.
[00:29:38] Have you stayed in touch with her by chance? I have not. Stayed in touch. I don't know exactly. I, my parents have. I know for a fact, my mom has, um, CaringBridge that you have. Have you heard of that? That is still, my mom's still keeps up with people. Okay. So cool. Um, yeah. What 
[00:29:58] Vince: [00:29:58] was it like, you know, [00:30:00] handing out that first 
[00:30:00] Tatum: [00:30:00] bag, it was a great, great feeling and we honestly, we kind of sometimes.
[00:30:07] Call it a blessing in disguise that I was diagnosed the second time, because it was just a couple of months after this, that I was rediagnosed. And I was obviously able to go into the hospital. I was there all the time and I was able to deliver a lot of bags in person, which I'm. Really able to do as much anymore, but I was able to meet a lot of the patients that I was giving the bags to and meet them face to face and watching them open bags and watching their face light up and watching them get excited about something, um, was such a good feeling.
[00:30:37] And I was able to see the impact that I was making. And I would go in for my treatments and I would see kids carrying their backpacks or I'd see them on the back of wheelchairs and know that. They've received a bag and they're using it and they bring it to treatment every time. And, um, I, we got a lot of, you know, generous, thank you notes.
[00:30:56] And a lot of kids would come up to me in the hospital and thank me [00:31:00] personally. And their parents would say, you know, it's the first time I've seen them smile and a very long time. And it's the first time that they've gotten excited about something in a very long time. Um, I think not only giving them the bags and the kids would obviously be very excited about what was inside the bags and they would be there.
[00:31:16] Every backpack comes with an electronic of some sort, it used to be a DSS, and then it was iPod touches and that stuff. And now it's Kindles because everything else has gone through the roof price wise, but Kindles can also be used as a form of iPad. And so kids get really excited about those. So obviously they were very excited about the contents of the bags, but I think the families and the parents were also very excited to see me, somebody who has gone through what their child's going through and has come out of it.
[00:31:47] Um, and you know, at that time was in treatment with them and they could see that I was doing well in powering through. And I think that was inspiring for a lot of the families as well. So it was kind of a good message to [00:32:00] give to patients and their families. Yeah. 
[00:32:03] Vince: [00:32:03] So, um, you're north central Panther, right?
[00:32:06] Yeah. That's fine. When, when you went into high school, um, or really even, even the latter part of elementary school, um, you're, you're, you're post second time through this. Do you feel like kids treated you any differently at all? If they knew your story? 
[00:32:27] Tatum: [00:32:27] No. No. In an elementary school. So the first time I had cancer, I was supposed to be in kindergarten.
[00:32:34] I actually never went, um, I was put in a class, they kept me in the class, but I obviously never went to school. I went on Valentine's day. It was the one day I went because, um, my mom, oh yeah, very important. Yeah. But they, you know, were so good about, you know, explaining to the students what was going on with me and.
[00:32:54] I went to first grade, went to all first grade and then second grade it was, we [00:33:00] did, you know, quarter's kind of, I just remember it being after right after the first quarter of second grade is when I was diagnosed the second time. But I remember in first grade, my first one, I was bald, completely bald. And I cried on the first day because I didn't want to go without a wig.
[00:33:16] And my parents were like, Nope, you're going without a wig just for the first day. At least I remember I wore a skirt specifically. So people would know I was a girl because at that age, a lot of people were very confused as to why I didn't have hair. And that was always a question of like, are you a girl or a boy?
[00:33:30] Like that kind of situation. That would always upset me. Um, but my elementary school, let me in my best friend. Who has been my best friend forever. Um, they let him give me a tour of the school because I had never been to my elementary school before. And he went to kindergarten there. So he knew the school.
[00:33:47] They let him give me a tour of the school before I went. And he was in my, I think they specifically put him in my first grade class on purpose. Um, and they had, I had a pen pal and for in kindergarten, cause I never went to school. And so they had, [00:34:00] they had set up a pen pal situation and they put her also in my first grade class.
[00:34:04] So I knew someone going into. Um, and my teacher explained everything to all the students. And from then on, they treated me no different than anyone else. They let you know. I played with everyone at recess, made friends with everyone, going through middle school, going through high school. And nobody ever treated me different.
[00:34:22] Everyone just treated me like every other student that was there. If anything, they treated me better. They always had questions. They always wanted to know. How was doing, and if I ever had appointments or something, if I wasn't in school, they'd be like, where were you? Where are you at a doctor's appointment?
[00:34:36] How'd it go? How how's everything going? Everyone was always so gracious and so nice to me. And I never really felt. An outsider, which was right. 
[00:34:44] Vince: [00:34:44] Good. Yeah. Did, um, did Riley ever, have you talked to other kids who recently diagnosed, whether it would be with a different form of cancer or something that, you know, matched up with your diagnosis, would you ever speak to them?
[00:34:59] Um, shortly after [00:35:00] their diagnosis, just to kind of answer questions or be a sounding board for things 
[00:35:04] Tatum: [00:35:04] Riley didn't necessarily do that, but. I had talked to a couple of patients through my mom or my dad who had maybe known somebody, um, who had been recently diagnosed or they would have family members reach out saying, you know, so-and-so has been diagnosed.
[00:35:20] I talked to people who went, who lived in other states who were maybe nervous about things. Um, and they would connect me with them. I would text back and forth with, um, other patients basically through my parents. I met a lot of patients. In the hospital going through treatment at the same time and I would talk to them and we would compare stories, compare situations and kind of help each other out through that.
[00:35:45] But yeah. 
[00:35:46] Vince: [00:35:46] You keep in contact 
[00:35:47] Tatum: [00:35:47] with any of them still today? No, not really. Again, like I'm friends with a lot of them on Facebook. And so I keep up with them that way and see how they're doing and see how they've made it so far. So yeah. So 
[00:35:58] Vince: [00:35:58] another benefit of the Facebook [00:36:00] gets such a bad rap. So w we were now gotten through north central.
[00:36:08] Um, so your parents would post a lot. So I kind of was able to keep up a little bit with what was going on there. Um, what, you know, your parents are both IQ grads, right? Um, they're way older than they were already gone out of ICU before I got there. Uh, but what's uh, so w did you feel like you were always going to ICU or what.
[00:36:28] I'll prompt that decision. 
[00:36:29] Tatum: [00:36:29] Yes and no. Um, I looked outside, obviously I looked at schools kind of all over the place, but I, you always had everything I wanted. I knew I wanted to go to a big school because growing up obviously went through public schools, very large public schools, and I'm a big fan of, um, large public schools.
[00:36:48] And I always had such a great time and I was like, I know I want to go to a big school. And I, you know, big 10 schools are always. You know, good time, fun times. And I knew I wanted something along those [00:37:00] lines. I knew I, I didn't necessarily know what I wanted to do. I was very undecided about what I wanted to do, what I wanted my major to be.
[00:37:09] And so I needed somewhere where I could try out different things and figure things out. I didn't want to go too far. I applied to some schools in California, um, got into Pepperdine, was kind of excited about that, but also was like it's really far. And I would only be able to come home probably once a year.
[00:37:25] What's that going to look like. And I had a lot of friends going to NYU and I was just like, you know what? This, it has everything. I want everything I need. I'm just going to go to NYU and easily the best decision I could've made. I've been nothing but happy the whole time I've been there and I am, I am loving it.
[00:37:42] So what are we studying? Elementary education. Yes. Yes. I have changed my major. I think I was nursing major first semester, freshman. Switched out of that did recreational therapy for a semester. Um, because I was thinking about doing occupational therapy or [00:38:00] recreational therapy, both, you know, working with kids, obviously in the therapy area.
[00:38:05] And then I switched to exercise science for my first semester of sophomore year. And that I did that because I had more options. I could have done occupational therapy, physical therapy, PA school, various things with exercise or kinesiology, exercise science. Yeah. Hated it cried all the time. He did my classes and I think a large part of that was COVID and having all of my classes be online and, yeah, we'll blame it on COVID we'll blame it on, COVID not the science factor, but I just realized I didn't like science and math as much as I thought I did.
[00:38:39] I thought I was a big science, math brain girl was not. And I just kept looking at the classes I was going to need to take moving forward. And I was like, no, absolutely not. I was like, if I hate it now, I'm going to hate it way more next semester. And so I talked to my [00:39:00] friends and I was like, I want to work with kids.
[00:39:02] I want to work with kids. It's all I've ever said. Everything in the back of my mind has been like, oh, like I'll be a nurse, but for pediatric oncology, oh, I'll be an occupational therapist. But only for pediatrics, like, all I wanted to do was work with kids and. I was like, I think I just, I think I really want to be a teacher, always been something in the back of my mind, always kind of said, I want to be a teacher.
[00:39:24] I told my mom, I remember telling her going into college. Yeah. As a freshman, I was like, oh, I wish I could just do elementary education. And she was like, well, yeah, like you could, you could do that. You won't make a lot of money, you know, but you know, you could definitely do that. Now. I was like, ah, I just wish that I wish I could just do it.
[00:39:39] I wish I could just do elementary education, but you know, nursing is fine or. Recreational therapy is fine. You know, like it was always like, ah, well, whatever I'll do this, but I was like, no, I need to do it. I need to switch. I'm so unhappy called my parents. And I was like, look so sorry. Switching elementary education.
[00:39:56] And I have been so happy this semester loving all of my classes. [00:40:00] So excited about it. I talk about it all the time with my friends. I'm like, I'm just so excited to be a teacher. So excited. And I want to like be able to make an impact. I was also wanting to help people was my other big thing. I want to work with kids and I want to help people.
[00:40:12] And as long as I'm doing both of those, both of those things, I'll be happy for the rest of my life. And so it doesn't matter what it is, as long as I'm doing those two things. And I feel like this is a good, good chance to do about those things and hopefully make a good impact on a lot of kids moving 
[00:40:25] Vince: [00:40:25] forward.
[00:40:26] If you're passionate about it. Yeah. Should typically Trump everything else. Yeah. 
[00:40:31] Tatum: [00:40:31] That's how I feel. So I'm really excited 
[00:40:33] Vince: [00:40:33] how I think I know the answer to this because we've certainly been through it. How would you describe trying to run a philanthropic organization through a 
[00:40:45] Tatum: [00:40:45] pandemic? Yeah. Good question.
[00:40:49] Um, first huge giving all of the credit to my parents. All of it. Just like throw it on them. They are the reason that we're still [00:41:00] doing what we're doing. They have obviously done the majority of the work, especially since I've been at school, they have taken over almost entirely. And so I'm extremely grateful for both of them, for everything that they do and for all of the help, um, and all of the work they put into it, it's like they're both working two jobs and this is their second one.
[00:41:20] So it's pretty incredible to watch them. Takeover and definitely doing it for me. So that's awesome. Um, but it was hard. Obviously we had to cancel our big, we have a big event every year, the white and gold party, and that was canceled because of COVID of course. And so that is where we get all of our money.
[00:41:43] All of our funding for the year basically comes from that one event. Um, so that was really, really hard. And we're slowly running out of funds here. So we're very fortunate that we have one coming up because. The end of what we have at saved. [00:42:00] What is the date this year? And go ahead and plug that August 13th.
[00:42:03] Okay. Dad, don't get mad at me if I'm getting that wrong, but I think it's August 13th at the folk. Yes. And brought her pool. We just had this discussion before I left. He was like, do not get this wrong. Yes. August 13th at the Vogue 16 candles is performing. It'll be so fun. Cool. Um, 21 and up open bar, obviously.
[00:42:22] I will almost be 21 at that point, but I do go every year regardless. Um, but yeah, so that is our big fundraiser. So we're very happy that we get to have it this year confirmed. We're getting to have it, take it to go on sale soon. Um, but yeah, so we couldn't have our event. We were lucky enough to have sponsors still willing to donate and still sponsor us for the year.
[00:42:44] And we had a lot of great support from family and friends and people willing to stay. Help us get through, but it was definitely difficult. I have not been able to go back to the hospital. We still can't go back to the hospital. We have to drop everything off. [00:43:00] My mom and I just went the other day and we had a trunk full of backpacks.
[00:43:04] Yeah. I think we've got a pick of, yeah, so that was the last, that was winter break bef um, my freshman year over winter break. And that was right inside the front lobby. Sorry, that was in the front lobby at Riley and we dropped off backpacks, brought them upstairs. And that is the last time I have gone inside.
[00:43:27] Well, actually that is a lie for an appointment, but didn't drop off back. Um, had a couple of appointments since then that I've gone back for, but that was last time we dropped off bags and now we go and a doctor or a nurse comes out and she piles them into this big cart. And. She takes a minute for us.
[00:43:45] So take some behind the doors and we don't see him again. It's a 
[00:43:47] Vince: [00:43:47] little anti-climactic. I mean, you still have to do not have to do it, but you still want to do it. It just doesn't have kind of the same feeling about it. But then you see the picture that they send you some pictures. 
[00:43:58] Tatum: [00:43:58] And I just like, we just [00:44:00] a couple of days ago, got a thank you note in the mail.
[00:44:02] And it was the cutest thing ever. And it was from a mom and she was like, I just wanted to say, thank you on behalf of me and my son for your gift. And like, we still get so many things, you know, so many Facebook messages. Stuff. And that definitely keeps us going, never get over. That is what keeps us going that's for sure.
[00:44:18] Yeah, I 
[00:44:18] Vince: [00:44:18] hear that. Um, so how you said you had a recent checkup? Yeah. 
[00:44:22] Tatum: [00:44:22] All good. All good. I have, um, this weird, like lump in my throat, um, that has been there for a very long time, but we've done numerous tests on it and they're, they're like, it's nothing, we don't know what what's going on. So I, lymph node is just like, my lymph node is swollen and it won't go away and.
[00:44:41] It's not, they did all these blood tests. They've done all these scans on it. Like it's nothing. So other than that, yeah, I'm doing good. I did. I forgot to mention, I had my hip replaced, um, my freshman year of high school, and that was a side effect of. Proponent of the femur [00:45:00] replacement. Um, cut off a lot of tutoring, not too much to get her in.
[00:45:03] Thank goodness. The razor scooter has been retired since the incident. Um, but I, it cut off a lot of blood flow to my hip. And so my hip joint essentially deteriorated completely. Um, and I was having a lot of hip pain. I was like, this is weird. And I went and they scanned it and they were like, you're still walking.
[00:45:22] It's amazing. Cause you shouldn't be, cause your hip is practically gone and. They did a hip replacement my freshman year. So I still go back to get that checked out every year as well. So now it's kind of like a double, double appointment where they, they check everything, basically check all my heart.
[00:45:39] Sure. My robotic leg is still working like 
[00:45:41] Vince: [00:45:41] an iPhone update 
[00:45:43] Tatum: [00:45:43] every now and then. Thank I. Well, I do have to get my hip replaced now every like 15 years or so, but get a lot of wear and tear on there now that I'm such a young person with a hip replacement. They're like a lot of times, you know, you're plus 60.
[00:45:54] Yeah. You know, it's 20 years later and, uh, you probably need another one they're like, but you're going to, you're going to need on [00:46:00] here pretty soon. Probably cause still running around. But yeah, other than that, all good. And haven't had really any issues since I finished chemo other than the hip. So.
[00:46:12] Hopefully it stays 
[00:46:13] Vince: [00:46:13] that way. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So let's um, if you would, if you were to talk to a child today that that's recently diagnosed, what would you tell them? I mean, what are some words of wisdom that having been through what you've been through, what would you share with those folks today? 
[00:46:29] Tatum: [00:46:29] Yeah.
[00:46:30] Um, I think that seeing the bright side of things is kind of a way that I've lived my life. Since everything happened. Um, I do my best on a daily basis to see the good in everything and to see the good and, um, everything that life throws at you. And I think especially recently with the pandemic and everything, my whole outlook was just to try to stay positive through everything and look on the bright side.
[00:46:56] And I think that that mindset is [00:47:00] essential for getting through anything. And so, especially for young kids, I think young kids. Have this crazy way of just being able to like see the good, so much easier than adults can I think? Hm. It's awesome. And I think that just being able to maintain that mindset is so important in being happy and staying positive.
[00:47:21] And my mom used to tell me, I remember so vividly before we would go into scans, she would tell me like close my eyes and picture my tumor, getting smaller. And then I'd go on my scans and they'd be like, oh, it's looks like it's going down. And so it was all this like positive mindset. And I just think that smiling your way through it and staying positive.
[00:47:41] Cure and can help you so much more getting through it and it's way easier to get through it. Yup. Smiling. 
[00:47:49] Vince: [00:47:49] Yup. Keeps coming back. It's that attitude it's totally, 
[00:47:52] Tatum: [00:47:52] totally the attitude and the mentality. Yeah. Yeah. 
[00:47:55] Vince: [00:47:55] So I have to assault on the quote unquote business side of things. Um, [00:48:00] what is, what is your vision for the Tatum Parker project in the, in the years ahead, 
[00:48:05] Tatum: [00:48:05] I think just keep doing what we're doing.
[00:48:07] And keeping it up. I think we've always said we wanted to expand it. I don't know what that would look like. Um, we've given bags to kids in other states, they've started a bags of fun actually in where did they just start one. They started them in other states from bags that we've given, um, which is awesome.
[00:48:25] So they're helping us expand this across the country, which is, I think essentially what our main goal was, but I think continuing to do what we're doing, giving it to kids. In Indiana giving it to all the kids that are diagnosed and just continuing to raise money and research, uh, or money and awareness for pediatric cancer research is something that's extremely important to me and something that we would just like to continue doing, and we want to keep doing it until hopefully we don't need to do it anymore.
[00:48:53] That's also something we've always said until hopefully there's a day where we don't need to do it anymore, and it can be a thing [00:49:00] of the past. Keep 
[00:49:02] Vince: [00:49:02] moving along. Yep. Well, cool. Well good on you and on your parents, we got a family photo here as well. I want to get your dad too much credit, but they are wearing the all new gear there.
[00:49:13] Oh yeah, no, you know, I appreciate what you guys are doing on an, on a lot of levels, but super excited and happy that you guys have continued to keep doing this and, and still want to, until, like you said, hopefully we don't have to do it anymore. Yeah, until then we 
[00:49:28] Tatum: [00:49:28] press on, we press on. Yeah, absolutely.
[00:49:31] Very grateful for my family. They've done everything and more for me. They are definitely the reason I am where I am today. So I'm very grateful for my parents, my grandparents too. Yeah. I don't know what I would have done without my grandparents as well. My brothers are awesome, very supportive, true at the one in the jerseys now, way taller than me.
[00:49:50] So if he sees this, he would not like that picture because he has, he has grown a lot more for in the past year, so, 
[00:49:59] Vince: [00:49:59] well, [00:50:00] we'll, uh, we'll just remember him as the shorter one here in 
[00:50:02] Tatum: [00:50:02] this types. And. Tying and the one next to me, he's going to be joining me at IEU next year. So that's really exciting. Yeah.
[00:50:11] Super excited for him. 
[00:50:12] Vince: [00:50:12] Cool. Well, um, thanks again for, yeah. Thank you so much for having me story and fun. 
[00:50:18] Tatum: [00:50:18] Yes. I always love an opportunity to share my story. Share. We appreciate it. Yeah, thank you for what you're doing this podcast is awesome. Thanks. 
[00:50:27] Vince: [00:50:27] Thank you. Thank you. I'm trying. Yeah, we're doing our best.
[00:50:30] You're doing a good job. Yeah. All right. Well until next time, Tatum, Parker. Thanks. Uh, check out the white and gold party August 13th. Be there. I've been to a couple of those. It's a good time. Good time. Yeah. It's not it's it's it's not quite your 21st birthday. It was close. All right. Thanks. Thanks. Thank you. [00:51:00] .