GAINESVILLE, Fla. —
Lauren Evans told us.
Becky Burleigh told us. The Florida soccer team told us. Hers, they all said, was going to be a "hel-LO-va" story.
It is has been.
And it keeps getting better.
"It's gone. They feel like they got it," said Jerome Evans, father of this amazing and strong young lady who goes by the nickname of "Lo."
And, yes, he was talking about her cancer.
Lo, a freshman on the UF soccer team last season,
was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive and lethal form of cancer last November. Doctors were encouraged they found the disease early enough for treatment to make an impact. In December, she began the first of four debilitating chemotherapy cycles — 30 to 35 days on, three to four days off, repeat — that ended in late-April, with the patient leaving the hospital after more than four months.
Now, she's getting out even more these days.
Saturday morning, Lo and her parents were guests at the Bob Dooley Invitational, a popular and annual charity event organized by
Gainesville Sun sports columnist Pat Dooley. The tournament, in its 24th year, is now woven into the fabric of the community, with proceeds going to local Stop Children's Cancer chapter. Evans was invited as recipient of this year's Bonnie Freeman/Jill Darr Courage Award, which honors someone who has fearlessly stared down cancer.
Before the tournament's shotgun start, Evans walked gingerly to the putting green, took the microphone from the host and eloquently thanked her doctors, nurses the staff at Florida Health. She ended her remarks with a familiar phrase.
"Go Gators!" she said.
Jerome and Allison Evans watched happily, proudly and thankfully in the crowd.
"Right now, she's in a deep remission, but you can never be 100 percent sure," Jerome said. "But she is cancer-free. Completely clean. The marrow is clean. The spinal fluid is clean. Now, it's about rehabbing and getting stronger every day, every week."
Lo is able to walk on an anti-gravity treadmill at 70 percent. She does some biking and light weightlifting three days a week. On the off days, she and dad do a little extra work.
Want more good news? Evans will return to classes at UF in the fall. With regard to her soccer future, everyone is just taking it a day at a time. As Burleigh said last winter, "We don't care how long it takes. We just want her back."
She's on her way. Just like we were told.
Hel-LO-va promise.
Hel-LO-va tough kid.
Hel-LO-va story.
