ATRUEGIFT

Girl, interrupted

ENERGETIC AND FUN-LOVING, HANNAH ENGLISH HAD ALWAYS BEEN THE TYPE TO JUMP AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OTHERS. THEN, ONE DAY, SHE WAS THE ONE IN NEED.

Hannah English’ dark pixie haircut amplifies her wide, expressive eyes and her ever-present smile. She loves her short hair. A few months ago she was bald, and she liked that, too.

Hannah buzzes about friends, camp and music. She seems like any 9-year-old girl — that is, except when she discusses chemotherapy. Then she becomes serious — not depressed or upset (as someone whose childhood has been interrupted by a life-altering illness might be), but just full of concentration.

“The biggest treatment comes in a huge bag of methotrexate that I get through an IV drip,” Hannah says. “Then I have to stay in the hospital three days in case of side effects.” Those might include abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, body aches or pancreatitis, which she has had twice.

Right after she was diagnosed, doctors placed a medical port under her skin, through which they administer medication. It will remain in place until she finishes treatment. On her waist, she wears a glucose sensor synced to an application on her parents’ cellphones. The chemo- therapy has caused her to suffer from symptoms that mirror diabetes.

Despite setbacks, she is optimistic.

“If the results of that last spinal [tap] are good,” Hannah says, “my next spinal in February will be my last. My remission date is Feb. 18, 2016. That means if things go well, I could be through with treatment.”

Hannah was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2013.

It was during her brother Cole’s fifth birthday party that Hannah felt rocks in her stomach, she says.

She went upstairs, to her room in the English’s big Lake Highlands home, and changed out of her jeans, into something looser-fitting.

“We thought it might be my pants that

Lakewood Early Childhood PTA would like to thank these wonderful companies and individuals for making the 39th Annual Lakewood Home Festival a huge success were making my stomach feel weird,” Hannah says.

But it only worsened, and later that night, the Englishes were in the emergency room at Medical City.

“We went in thinking she probably had appendicitis,” her dad Jeff English says. “We came out with a leukemia diagnosis.”

Though her parents are weary, Hannah produces evidence — in the form of trinkets, photos and anecdotes — that the days since have produced magical moments.

A heavy necklace is made of densely threaded beads, each representing a hospital treatment. One, engraved with a smiling face, “represents the day you lose your hair,” Hannah says.

All told, Hannah has spent 79 nights in the hospital, her father says. But there are other children, many who be- came Hannah’s friends, who have longer chains. Some have several of them, notes Lisa English, Hannah’s mom.

The family acknowledges that others who entered the pediatric wing of the same hospital never came out.

Jeff shows photos of a grinning, hairless Hannah surrounded by friends at Camp I Hope.

Hannah says she’s been to three concerts. She’s obsessed with music and plays the guitar. Her favorite band is Foo Fighters. Jeff took Hannah to see them last time they came to town. “She warned me that they might drop some F bombs,” he says, laughing.

Living with leukemia is tough, Hannah says, but it can prove a persuasive tool when talking your parents into taking you to rock concerts.

Most recently, she attended the Katy Perry show in Costa Rica, courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas. Though Hannah requested this, it was still a shock.

“The Make-A-Wish people told her Katy Perry is very popular,” Lisa says. “They asked if she wanted to choose anything else, but Hannah said, ‘No, I want to meet Katy Perry.’ She loves all her songs and she sings them and dances around in her room and has her posters all over her walls.”

Foundation representatives showed up at a recent Friday pep rally at Merriman Park Elementary, where Hannah is in the fourth grade, to tell her the wish had been granted.

The students were all cheering, Hannah recalls, and says she was stunned.

“We are so proud of Hannah as she has fought and battled this cancer,” Principal Katie Kirkpatrick Barrett told the children. “She’s our campus hero.”

The whole English family spent a long weekend at the beach, and Perry spent an hour chatting with Hannah, occasionally pausing to engage in one of Cole’s knock-knock jokes. At the end of the night, Perry plucked the hair scrunchie from her ponytail and handed it to Hannah, “For when your hair grows out,” she told her. The hair-tie remains wrapped around an autographed Perry poster.

The Merriman Park Elementary community has suffered its share of cancer illnesses. Longtime teacher Beth Lyons was diagnosed with leukemia in 2013. Hannah volunteered at a lemonade stand fundraiser for Lyons before her own diagnosis a few months later.

Hannah remembers having Lyons around to help when she felt nauseated or sleepy from the chemotherapy.

“She would let me rest in her classroom when I felt bad,” Hannah says.

Jeff says he and Lisa often checked with Lyons, since she was receiving the same medicines as Hannah.

“Hannah would never complain, so we asked Lisa how she felt as a way to gauge how Hannah might be feeling,” Jeff says.

Another student, Malik Little, who has since moved to another district, also learned he had lymphoma that year.

Each time someone is diagnosed with a serious illness, people unite financially and in spirit, offering time, money and even blood. Two years ago, Lake Highlands neighbors staged a blood drive for Hannah and others who need transfusions due to cancer-related illnesses.

Following the three diagnoses, Merriman Park students raised $15,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and news anchor Clarice Tinsley featured them in her Hometown Heroes segment early last year.

As her hair grows in and she anticipates the future, Hannah grapples with her love of music and desire to help others.

“I groundbreaking scene crosses the line between reenactment and real life. The actors are the men who lived it. Lake Highlands High School graduate Katie Norris says producing this portion of “Travis: A Soldier’s Story” was one of the biggest risks she can remember taking in her relatively short, yet innovation-packed, filmmaking career. Travis Mills is one of five quadruple-amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive. “It was a lot to ask, taking these men back to their darkest place,” Norris says. “Travis was OK with it, but he wouldn’t let his guys do more than three takes. He was more concerned about them.”

Norris’ nonprofit film production company, Fotolanthropy, also invested in expensive pyrotechnics for the reenactment. These sorts of emotional and financial leaps of faith define Norris’ career.

After graduating from Baylor in 2008, she became an interior designer, but a love of photography kept tugging at her. Her husband, Reece, a corporate attorney, decided around that time to pursue his own entrepreneurial passions. A declining economy and layoffs in the interior design industry forced Norris to do the same, so she launched Katie Norris Portrait Arts, a business that she parlayed into the pioneering, passion-driven projects she oversees today.

Fotolanthropy established quickly, following a heartbreaking phone call. It was a mother whose son had just been diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor. “She said, ‘I heard you could help me’,” Norris recalls. “She told me her baby had beautiful hair she wanted me to photograph before it fell out. I felt I had literally been called to do something.”

Norris photographed baby James Camden Sikes. She found a videographer willing to partner with her to turn the project into a short movie for the parents. James died about a year later. In a matter of days, Norris and a small team developed the Fotolanthropy brand. They launched the nonprofit along with that first film in 2011. Their work — short movies, photo stories and feature documentaries — often have deadlines imposed by subjects, many who have only a short time to live.

“It was two weeks before Andrew was about to pass away,” says Bailey Grey, who, with her husband who was battling termi-

Lamplighter delivers serious education wrapped in the wonder of childhood.

Learn more. Join us for a tour. Contact the Office of Admission and Placement at 214.369.9201 ext. 347

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the NEW has come!”

II Corinthians 5:17

OpenHouse Jan.14th

SERVING AGES 3 MONTHS - ADULTS

4411 SKILLMAN Preschool & Elementary School 214-826-4410

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6121 E. Lovers Ln. (@ Skillman) Dallas, TX 75214 214-363-1630/ ziondallas.org

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WHITE ROCK NORTH SCHOOL

• Classic education

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• 3 years through 6th grade

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Highlander School 9120 Plano Road, Dallas, TX 75238 214-348-3220 www.highlanderschool.com

‧Student Garden

‧Fine Arts: Dance, Music, Art

‧Extensive P.E. Program: Skating, Swimming & Archery Call for a Tour: 214-348-7410

WhiteRockNorthSchool.com www.thelamplighterschool.org x103 SJES admits qualified students of any race, color, religion, gender, and national or ethnic origin.

Since 1966 The Tradition Continues…

Highlander School

9120 Plano Rd. Dallas / 214.348.3220 / www.highlanderschool.com

Founded in 1966, Highlander offers an enriched curriculum in a positive, Christian-based environment. By limiting class size, teachers are able to build a strong educational foundation to ensure confidence in academics, athletics, and the creative and performing arts. Highlander offers a “classic” education which cannot be equaled. Monthly tours offered; call for a reservation.

Lakehill Preparatory School

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931 / lakehillprep. org Kindergarten through Grade 12 - Lakehill Preparatory School takes the word preparatory in its name very seriously. Throughout a student’s academic career, Lakehill builds an educational program that achieves its goal of enabling graduates to attend the finest, most rigorous universities of choice. Lakehill combines a robust, college-preparatory curriculum with opportunities for personal growth, individual enrichment, and community involvement. From kindergarten through high school, every Lakehill student is encouraged to strive, challenged to succeed, and inspired to excel.

The Lamplighter School

11611 Inwood Road Dallas TX 75229/ 214-369-9201/ thelamplighterschool.org

Lamplighter delivers serious education wrapped in the wonder of childhood. The Pre-K through fourth grade years are fleeting, but filled with pure potential. What we, as parents and educators, ignite in these primary years establishes the trajectory of a child’s future. Lamplighter helps set children on a path toward rewarding lives as forever learners. The independent, co-educational school promotes academic excellence through innovative curriculum that merges fine arts with language arts, math, environmental science, social studies, physical education, and Spanish

Spanish House

4411 Skillman 214-826-4410 / 5740 Prospect 214-826-6350 / DallasSpanishHouse.com

Spanish Immersion School serving ages 3 month - Adults. We offer nursery, preschool, elementary and adult programs at two Lakewood locations. Degreed, native-Spanish speaking teachers in an “all-Spanish” immersion environment. Call for a tour today!

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ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org Founded in 1953, St. John’s is an independent, co-educational day school for Pre-K through Grade 8. With a tradition for academic excellence, St. John’s programs include a challenging curriculum in a Christian environment along with instruction in the visual and performing arts, Spanish, German, French, and opportunities for athletics and community service.St. John’s goal for its students is to develop a love for learning, service to others, and leadership grounded in love, humility, and wisdom. Accredited by ISAS, SAES, and the Texas Education Agency.

White Rock North School

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas / 214.348.7410 nal cancer, was the subject of a project. “As excited as we were we. were really worried. The day Fotolanthropy came, the crew was so sensitive, compassionate and loving and we shared laughs and it was a sweet time for all of us.”

/ WhiteRockNorthSchool.com

6 Weeks through 6th Grade. Our accelerated curriculum provides opportunity for intellectual and physical development in a loving and nurturing environment. Character-building and civic responsibility are stressed. Facilities include indoor swimming pool, skating rink, updated playground, and state-of-the-art technology lab. Kids Club on the Corner provides meaningful after-school experiences. Summer Camp offers field trips, swimming, and a balance of indoor and outdoor activities designed around fun-filled themes. Accredited by SACS. Call for a tour of the campus.

Zion Lutheran School

6121 E. Lovers Ln. Dallas / 214.363.1630 / ziondallas. org Toddler care thru 8th Grade. Serving Dallas for over 58 years offering a quality education in a Christ-centered learning environment. Degreed educators minister to the academic, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of students and their families. Before and after school programs, Extended Care, Parents Day Out, athletics, fine arts, integrated technology, Spanish, outdoor education, Accelerated Reader, advanced math placement, and student government. Accredited by National Lutheran School & Texas District Accreditation Commissions and TANS. Contact Principal Jeff Thorman.

of our 200,000+ readers with average income of $146,750 want more info about private schools.

Today, with a team of professionals from around the world including director Jonathan Link, Fotolanthropy has produced two feature-length documentaries. They fund the work through grants, donations and Norris’ for-profit company, Fotostrap, which sells vintage-style, monogrammed camera straps for $85-$125. A socially responsible, made in the USA product, 100 percent of Fotostrap’s profits benefit Fotolanthropy, Norris says. In addition to “Travis: A Soldier’s Story,” which was so popular that Travis sold his book and movie rights, Fotolanthropy recently released “The Luckiest Man,” the story of Dallas businessman John Paine and his battle against ALS. When it premiered at the Angelika Film Center in October, it sold out. The theater added two extra screenings, which also filled the theater.

The Paine family attended the screeening. It was one of the top memories in Norris’ life, she says. The Paine’s also were touched by the enire experience.

“It was a very emotional time for us as a family,” John’s son Josh Paine says. “I’m a skeptic by nature I expected a transactional type of event, not the level of empathy and care. It ended up being a really therapeutic day for us.”

Norris has plenty of aspirations, both philantropically and professionally.

“One of the biggest goals was to have one of our documentaries made into a full feature film, and that is happening with Travis,” Norris says. “Now our goals are to get the word out about ‘The Luckiest Man.’ John Paine’s words and perspective are so important. Not getting those on record would have been a great loss, and now we want to make sure to put it in front of audiences.”

SEE MORE: Learn more about “Travis: A Soldier’s Story,” “The Luckiest Man” and Fotolanthropy at fotolanthropy.com.

A GIFT THAT GIVES: Buy Fotostrap at fotostrap.com

Anglican

ALL SAINTS EAST DALLAS / allsaintseastdallas.org

Sunday worship service at 5:00 pm

Meeting at Central Lutheran Church / 1000 Easton Road

Baptist

LAKESIDE BAPTIST / 9150 Garland Rd / 214.324.1425

Sunday School 9:15am & Worship 10:30am

Pastor Jeff Donnell / www.lbcdallas.com

PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org

Worship & Bible Study 9:15 & 10:45 Traditional, Contemporary, Spanish Speaking / 214.860.1500

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

Pastor George A. Mason Ph.D. / Worship 8:30 & 11:00 am

Bible Study 9:40 am / www.wilshirebc.org

Bible Churches

NORTH HIGHLANDS BIBLE CHURCH / www.nhbc.net / 9626 Church Rd.

Sunday: LifeQuest (all ages) 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am

Student Ministry: Wednesday & Sunday 7:00 pm / 214.348.9697

Disciples Of Christ

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / Worship 8:30 am - Chapel

10:50 am - Sanctuary / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org

Lutheran

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA / 1000 Easton Road

Sunday School for all ages 9:00 am / Worship Service 10:30 am

Pastor Rich Pounds / CentralLutheran.org / 214.327.2222

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH / 6202 E Mockingbird Ln.

Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am / Call for class schedule. 214.821.5929 / www.dallaslutheran.org

Methodist

LAKE HIGHLANDS UMC / 9015 Plano Rd. / 214.348.6600 / lhumc.com

Sunday Morning: 9:30 am Sunday School / 10:30 am Coffee

Worship: 8:30 am & 10:50 am Traditional / 10:50 am Contemporary

Presbyterian

LAKE HIGHLANDS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 214.348.2133

8525 Audelia Road at NW Hwy. / www.lhpres.org

9:00 am Contemporary, 9:55 am Christian Ed., 11:00 am Traditional

NORTHRIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 6920 Bob-O-Link Dr. 214.827.5521 / www.northridgepc.org / Welcomes you to Worship

8:30 & 11:00 am / Church School 9:35 am / Childcare provided.

Unity

UNITY OF DALLAS / A Positive Path for Spiritual Living

6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230 / 972.233.7106 / UnityDallas.org

10:30 am Sunday - Celebration Worship Service