Submitted photo Columbus author Connie Radovanovic, center, and staff members of the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research pose with copies of her book that funded the bulk of she and husband Rod’s $15,000 donation.
The biggest race ever for runner Justin Spoon was the one for his very life.
He heroically pushed himself for two and a half grueling years against all odds. And in that time, the nationally-ranked Asbury University athlete amassed off-the-track stats that seem staggering: 275 nights hospitalized, 33 rounds of radiation, 21 days in intensive care, and 22 rounds of chemo with 10 unique drugs.
Such was his sprint from Rhabdomyosarcoma, also known as RMS, a cancer predominantly diagnosed in children.
It took Spo0on’s life on March 23 at age 24. Yet, before that, he refused to allow it to take his exuberance.
He posted this on Instagram on his graduation day from Asbury: “Regardless of how much it tried, cancer can’t have my smile nor my joy (though it did ironically take a few of my teeth).”
But the Columbus native will be remembered long beyond the present because of a myriad of memorial gestures and funds established in his honor at Asbury and elsewhere. That includes Columbus book author Connie Radovanovic recently donating $15,000 to honor him through the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
The money came from the proceeds of her 2022 book, “Innocence and Wisdom of My Little Seeds,” along with a donation from Radovanovic and her husband Rod.
The writer and founder of Little Seeds Preschool dedicated the book, about students’ free-spirited and humorous comments through the years, to her preschoolers who battled childhood cancers and to pediatric cancer research.
“That total was beyond what we were expecting (from sales),” Radovanovic said, adding that she thought of Justin during the recent check presentation. “I can’t quite explain how this made me feel. It almost made me cry.”
Columbus residents Robyn and Joel Spoon, Justin’s parents who are grateful to the Radovanovics, can’t quite easily explain how the gift makes them feel, either. They say they feel hope that it might trigger other gifts so RMS and other pediatric cancers can be adequately studied and researched in a state that they see as woefully lacking in funding such work. The parents cite that shortfall despite many families lobbying Hoosier lawmakers for more research funding pediatric cancers and Phase One drug trials.
“The problem is that there can be a big (media) story about this, and then unfortunately, absolutely no energy almost right after that. … We need something better. We need something a lot better.”
Justin himself believed that. He became especially passionate about that issue when he discovered he had only weeks to live.
“He said, ‘This is so wrong that we as a society have lost our way, and are not investing in this,’” his mother remembered. … “He said ‘Mom, Dad, people with 5- and 10-year-olds have to sit down and have these conversations about dying. And I’m a grown man.
“”But the fact that we have not done better (for them) is egregious.’
“That was when he finally said, ‘Use my name. And really propel this forward from the fundraising perspective.’ So his journey to get there about fundraising was a little different — just because he initially felt called to do other things (first).”
The Spoons made sure Justin’s medical journey could benefit future RMS patients. One way is through two of his cancerous tumors that were removed. IU will use them and the tumor cell lines — the only ones of its kind in the world — in its research. Robyn called the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research’s work “phenomenal — and they just need more money to do it.”
The family realized very early in Justin’s treatment that funding research needed a much bigger push. For example, one of his initial, major drugs prescribed was approved in 1959.
“That is devastating,” Robyn said. “When I discovered how woefully underfunded childhood cancers are, I was immediately concerned.”
And, nearly four months after her son’s death, she understandably remains concerned.
“Curing this kind of cancer is going to require a massive community,” she said. “And Connie’s generosity, benevolence and love for children and for Justin is absolutely beautiful. The fact that she has done this is just phenomenal. It’s going to help that lab have what they ultimately need for a cure.”
While that medical mission continues, Robyn’s family remains determined to live their Christian faith in the wake of heartache. She talks not of happiness these days, but instead, something she sees as greater: joy — just what Justin posted about squarely amid loss.
“We have found,” Robyn said, “moments of sacredness amid even the most painful spaces and circumstances.”
How you can help
One avenue for donations to fund pediatric cancer research is thrpough the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine. This link to the Mighty Mason Fund is a conduit to that center: https://give.rileykids.org/campaign/mighty-mason-fund-rms-research/c333852
