Kicking stress with karate helps sick kids

By Oralandar Brand-Williams The Detroit News DETROIT (AP) -- Daunte Davis was only a few days old when he was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, resulting in an enlarged spleen and multiple blood transfusions. The constant pokes of needles to deliver much-needed medications to battle the disease made going to the doctor a harrowing experience for the youngster. But all that changed about five years ago when Daunte, now 9, joined Kids Kicking Cancer. The program helps children facing cancer and other serious illnesses "to breathe in the light and blow out the dark" through martial arts relaxation and meditation techniques. The program also helps the children manage the stress, anxiety and pain of their illnesses and medical treatments, and this week will begin a campaign to introduce the program to more Metro Detroiters. During their doctors' visits and medical procedures, the children use a deep breathing and relaxation exercise called "breath brakes" in which they inhale deeply and then exhale with shallow breaths while counting to three. Some move their arms away from their bodies and others close their eyes. "I would probably still be sick in the hospital," said Daunte, who moved his small arms away from his body, illustrating how he does the relaxation technique. "I used to have needles in me like every week. It took my pain away." Daunte has an older brother, Donald, 16, who also has sickle cell anemia and is in the weekly martial arts program. Two other siblings, Darius 12, and Paris, 6, also take part in Kids Kicking Cancer to show support for their brothers. "It's really, really, really helpful," said Patrice Davis, Daunte's mom. "All the children are close. They are around other children who are going through the same procedures, so they all have something in common." For Sharrod Williams, whose daughter Jamiah, 15, became involved in the program when she was fighting liver cancer, the program has been a tremendous boost and comfort. "It's helped a lot. Everything about it helps her breathing, her ability to be mentally strong. It's helped her with stress, everyday life and with chemotherapy," Williams said. Jamiah was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 and underwent treatment. She has been cancer-free since 2009 and continues to participate in the program. The program was also helpful, said Williams, when Jamiah was taunted after going bald, a side effect of her cancer treatments. Jamiah's brother, DaSean, 13, attends the classes with her for encouragement, and Williams said she has found them useful for herself as well. "This program has helped me to be strong for her," said Williams. "I didn't even know there were so many kids with cancer." Williams said the breathing exercise is an essential one, especially for children facing anxiety-ridden procedures such as blood tests. "The breathing helps the kids . The small kids are afraid of needles; they have to get a lot of shots," added Williams. Kids Kicking Cancer was founded in 1999 by Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, who lost his own daughter, Sara Basya, 2, to leukemia 31 years ago. Goldberg calls the program a "tome about greatness." Adults in the program can learn a lesson from the children; said Goldberg, who also is a clinical assistant professor in pediatrics at Wayne State University's medical school. "The teachers of this course are as young as 2 years old," he said. About 400 local kids belong to the Kids Kicking Cancer chapter of southeastern Michigan. There are six other chapters around the world, including in Italy. The karate classes, along with the martial arts attire, T-shirts and transportation, are free. The program is supported by private and corporate donations. In the coming months, Kids Kicking Cancer will begin its outreach to the area's minorities. Events to introduce the program in other areas will kick off in the coming months, said Marc Cohen, the Michigan program director. The Detroit News and New Michigan Media, which includes local minority, ethnic and religious-based publications, are media sponsors for the community events. For Jennifer Taylor, 22, the program provides a place to be around others who are experiencing the same problem. Taylor has Hodgkin's lymphoma and has to carry portable oxygen. She doesn't do strenuous exercises in the class anymore because of the progression of the cancer, but she says she likes to attend the martial arts classes to be around others who also are dealing with a serious illness. "It really gives me a place to be around people who are going through the same situation as me," said Taylor, who has been in Kids Kicking Cancer since she was a teen. "It gives me a handle," said Taylor about the cancer. "I know how to deal with my pain more." Martial arts instructor Peter Davenport, 30, said the kids have taught him not to "sweat the small stuff...relax a little bit and count my blessings." "It has helped me grow as a man and as a human being," he said. Co-instructor Richard Plowden said the program has been "a wonderful experience." "The kids are so inspirational," he said. "They have such a level of maturity typically not found in kids as young as 3, 4 and 5 years old and up. They are quite nurturing when you think you're nurturing them, they're really nurturing you," added Plowden. Published: Tue, Jul 31, 2012