Austintown Middle School student battles cancer, students and staff raise support

The Austintown Intermediate fifth-grade boys basketball team will take on the Intermediate staff in a game to raise money for fellow 10-year-old student Emily Orlaski, whose cancer has returned after a long battle. The event will be hosted in the Austintown Middle School gym on March 10 at 6 p.m.

Orlaski’s journey began on Sept. 15 of last year when she stepped off her school bus complaining of a soreness in her hip. Her pain was the result of an unknown mass on one of her kidneys that was diagnosed as a stage four tumor. The tumor eventually travelled to her lungs.

Four days after stepping off the school bus, Orlaski was at The Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, where her left kidney was removed. Immediately following her surgery Orlaski began her eight month (to date) regimen of radiation and chemotherapy. Orlaski’s initial radiation treatments ended in December of last year, but her chemotherapy treatments continued. Orlaski kept up with her schoolwork at home by tutoring through Falcon Online.

Last year, an event in her honor raised $12,000. Superintendent Vince Colaluca, Principal Jeff Swavel and Counselor Lisa Fitzgerald all shaved their heads in an effort to raise money for Orlaski’s fight. Orlaski completed the fourth-grade despite an overwhelming year and returned this school year cancer free.

Unfortunately, in November Orlaski’s family learned that her cancer had returned. She is currently undergoing radiation and will not be able to return to school for three months due to a weakened immune system.

Austintown staff and students hope for another great turn out to support Orlaski’s fight. In addition to the game, a Chinese auction, half court contest and various performances from school groups will take place.