Long Island Preschoolers Fighting Cancer Celebrate Exciting Milestone
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There was a graduation like few others on Long Island, Wednesday.
Preschoolers celebrated moving up, and being a kid.
As CBS2's Vanessa Murdock reported, there was some serious excitement as 12 adorable little ones sported their caps and gowns.
But these weren't typical preschoolers. You'd never know it watching them run around playing swords, but they're all battling cancer.
"I didn't think she'd be able to go to school. It breaks your heart as a parent," Ruru Liao-Sim, said.
Not only did her 3-year-old daughter Morgan go to school, she's thriving.
It's thanks to the Morgan Center -- co-founded by Nancy Zuch after her daughter Morgan was diagnosed with leukemia at just 2 1/2-years-old.
"Due to her suppressed immune system she couldn't go to preschool, couldn't be around other kids. She couldn't go," Zuchs said.
Zuch said at the center they take extra precautions to ensure a clean environment. Her goal is to give the immuno-compromised children a chance to learn, make friends, and just be kids.
It seems to be working.
"I should have worn waterproof mascara," Ingrid Von Holt said.
Von Holt's 4 1/2-year-old son Max is in treatment.
"We're just happy to see him smile, jumping around laughing, and throwing his cap and gown," she said.
"In that moment, I feel like crying because I feel so happy," Balaqual Apolonnia said.
Argeta Spencer said her son Austin has been in a constant battle with neuroblastomo since 16 months.
"Bittersweet today. His battle was really tough and is ongoing, but today, for us to see him achieve this milestone, I just don't have the words really," Spencer said.
Austin, now 5-years-old, seems to have his future all figured out.
"I want to be a superhero," he said.
In fact he already is.
"I fight crime," he said.
And he harnessed the most important superpower of his life.
"I kicked cancer's butt," he explained.
These preschoolers are proving that even the worst can be fought against and won.
