FOX 18 : KLJB/KGCW – Quad Cities: Davenport, Bettendorf,Beyond the Desk: Overcoming the Odds

Beyond the Desk: Overcoming the Odds

A student asked me a common, but very good question today in Ms. Wade's 8th grade class at Bettendorf Middle School.

"Does the news ever affect you?" I've been asked the question many times before, and it seems the longer I'm in this business the more the answer is certainly yes. A lot of times it's car accidents we report on. You see young kids die a horrific death for something so stupid and so preventable.

Other times, it's telling the story of a woman who's passed away from cancer and her young daughters who must grow-up now without their mom.

Tonight I'm telling the story of a cancer survivor. Amber Hendricks of Wataga, was diagnosed with stage 3 papillary carcinoma and has been cancer free for seven months now. It's a story that couldn't fall into my life at a better time. Last night, my friend's husband lost his battle with cancer. No matter how hard you try to prepare yourself for the news it's never an easy thing to grasp.

Amber's story tonight is reminding me that miracles can still happen. She's a singer and after radiation therapy doctors told her she wouldn't be able to sing again. But she figured out a way how! She went to the St. Louis American Idol auditions and out of 11,000 people made it to the top 110! What an inspiration! Her story has touched me and I hope you're touched too!