As a shortstop, nine-year-old Haleigh Steenbergen scoops up grounders and turns double plays. As a pitcher, she already has speed and accuracy from the mound. Haleigh ignites her team, the Bat-itudes, an 11 and under division team in Scottsville, with her rallying chants and fearless attitude. She exhibits so much raw, natural talent; you would think she was born with a ball and a glove in her hand.
Not only is Haleigh a natural athlete, but with her long blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, sun-kissed skin and innocent smile, she is the picture of health. But, it hasn’t always been that way. At age three, Haleigh began to fight a battle that no child should have to fight.
On November 29th, 2006, Haleigh’s parents Kevin and Ashleigh Steenbergen, became very alarmed when Haleigh woke up that morning dizzy, vomiting and walking off-balance to the left. When questioned, Haleigh told her parents that she had swallowed a penny. A call to the doctor assured Ashleigh that the penny would pass.
As the day went on, Haleigh’s symptoms worsened. Ashleigh began doubting that a penny had caused her child to be so sick, so she took Haleigh to the pediatrician’s office to be examined. By this time, Haleigh could not stand on her own, her left eye had swollen shut, and her mouth was drawn as if she had had a stroke. Neurological tests determined that Haleigh’s eyes were jerking as she looked to the right and left. Immediately, Haleigh was sent to the MedicalCenter at Bowling Green for a CT Scan.
The diagnosis….three-year-old Haleigh had a brainstem tumor about 1.2 cm in diameter. The brainstem is the region of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord.
“I freaked out. Maybe I went into shock,” Ashleigh said as she described her initial reaction to her child’s diagnosis. Very distraught, she went into the hospital bathroom so Haleigh could not see her crying. Ashleigh knew she had to regain her composure for Haleigh’s sake, so she pulled herself together and decided that no criers would be allowed around Haleigh.
In just over an hour, an ambulance from Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky arrived to transport Haleigh to the hospital. Kevin and Ashleigh were allowed to ride with Haleigh to comfort their daughter.
Upon arrival at the hospital, Haleigh was quickly admitted straight onto the cancer floor where a team of doctors met with her frantic parents. First, Haleigh was administered steroids to reduce any swelling, and soon her mouth and eye began to improve. And, through MRI and PET scan images, Kevin and Ashleigh finally got to see a clear picture of the tumor that had so abruptly disrupted all their lives.
More bad news piled on as the top neurosurgeon declared the tumor inoperable due to the location within the brain; he just could not reach it. Haleigh’s parents were told to decide between chemotherapy or radiation in hopes of shrinking the tumor.
Haleigh was given chemotherapy intravenously everyday for two weeks, at which time another PET scan was performed. The tumor had begun to shrink. Haleigh was released from the hospital, but had to take chemo pills while home. This cycle of monthly intravenously treatments followed by chemo pills at home would be Haleigh’s routine for the next three years of her life, sometimes being admitted back into the hospital if her blood counts were too low.
Haleigh’s golden locks began to fall out, and all she could eat were Dora Spaghettio’s. “The doctors advised me to never sugarcoat anything with Haleigh, so I explained to her that she might have to go to heaven, first, and then wait for mommy and daddy to come to her,” Ashley said with teary eyes. “Then, Haleigh informed me, ‘I’m just not ready to go right now, so I’ll fight it,’” Ashley grinned, alluding to Haleigh’s funny personality.
Today, the tumor is still visible on the MRIs, but remains its shrunken size. And, for the most part, Haleigh’s symptoms have rescinded, except for a few minor complications and stiffness in her joints caused by chemotherapy treatments. “The doctors think she’ll be okay, unless the tumor begins to grow again,” Ashleigh sighed.
To date, Haleigh has been able to play four seasons of softball. When I asked her if she wanted to play for the Lady Patriots in high school, with dirt on her cheek, she flashed a big smile and said, “I’m working on it!”
Haleigh says she likes that her dad is her coach, except when he fusses at her for watching a third strike go by. “Then, he’s not so happy,” she added.
After games, Haleigh usually runs around the softball fields playing and fussing with her two younger sisters Raleigh and Jaleigh.
Although Haleigh’s life and health have been a challenge, she possesses an undeniable inner strength, culminated from the obstacles that she has had to overcome as a young child. Through faith and with the love of her family, Haleigh has fearlessly defeated her ruthless opponent and will undoubtedly succeed, not only on the softball field, but at anything she sets her mind to do.
