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The University of Utah Athletics
Volleyball Adopts Chrissy Turner Through Friends of Jaclyn
10/4/2018 5:12 PM | Volleyball
Turner Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer When She Was Eight
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah volleyball team welcomed a new member to the team in Salt Lake City local Chrissy Turner.
When Chrissy was eight years old, she told her parents about a lump that she felt in her right breast that was painful to touch. After going to the doctor and getting tests run, she was diagnosed with secretory breast carcinoma, a rare type of cancer afflicting one person in a million.
"It was so surreal and just disbelief," Chrissy's mom, Annette Turner, said on the diagnosis. "It's a lot of emotion that you can't put into words, especially as a parent and struggling through that when it's your eight-year old. You've got to take this information and give her the news that she has cancer, so my initial reaction was disbelief. There were a lot of questions of why and then just so much of it leads one day to the next. It's a blur of getting through her surgery and so much of it was trying to wrap our heads and hearts around it."
Chrissy had surgery to remove the tumor and has had breast scans every three months since the surgery.
While Chrissy and the family was fighting this battle, Erin Perkins of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation reached out to see if they would be interested in getting adopted by a local team.
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers. They do this by pairing the afflicted child and their siblings with local high school and college sports teams, campus clubs and arts programs in their community.
Simultaneously, the Utah volleyball team was interested in adopting someone to become part of the team so the stars aligned for the two to join up.
On Tuesday, Chrissy and her family came out to Crimson Court and took in Utah's practice as they were preparing for a busy weekend hosting No. 2 Stanford and Cal in the Huntsman Center. After practice, everyone sat down and enjoyed dinner to get to know each other even better.
"Hearing her story yesterday was an inspiration to us, because when we think we have it bad it can't compare with what she's gone through," head coach Beth Launiere said. "You can tell she's so tough. Chrissy had a smile on her face so much yesterday and after what she's been through to know that she's still battling and enjoying life was an inspiration."
After sharing her story, the Utes presented her with her own jersey. Chrissy will wear number four since it's her favorite number.
As the toughness and spirit showed while hanging out with the team, Chrissy's mom knows exactly what she'll add to the team as they battle their way through Pac-12 play.
"She's excited and we're super excited to be part of it," Turner said. "For us, to give those amazing student-athletes some energy and some extra purpose to a game they love is so amazing. Her just being there is going to be a blast for them."
When Chrissy was eight years old, she told her parents about a lump that she felt in her right breast that was painful to touch. After going to the doctor and getting tests run, she was diagnosed with secretory breast carcinoma, a rare type of cancer afflicting one person in a million.
"It was so surreal and just disbelief," Chrissy's mom, Annette Turner, said on the diagnosis. "It's a lot of emotion that you can't put into words, especially as a parent and struggling through that when it's your eight-year old. You've got to take this information and give her the news that she has cancer, so my initial reaction was disbelief. There were a lot of questions of why and then just so much of it leads one day to the next. It's a blur of getting through her surgery and so much of it was trying to wrap our heads and hearts around it."
Chrissy had surgery to remove the tumor and has had breast scans every three months since the surgery.
While Chrissy and the family was fighting this battle, Erin Perkins of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation reached out to see if they would be interested in getting adopted by a local team.
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers. They do this by pairing the afflicted child and their siblings with local high school and college sports teams, campus clubs and arts programs in their community.
Simultaneously, the Utah volleyball team was interested in adopting someone to become part of the team so the stars aligned for the two to join up.
On Tuesday, Chrissy and her family came out to Crimson Court and took in Utah's practice as they were preparing for a busy weekend hosting No. 2 Stanford and Cal in the Huntsman Center. After practice, everyone sat down and enjoyed dinner to get to know each other even better.
"Hearing her story yesterday was an inspiration to us, because when we think we have it bad it can't compare with what she's gone through," head coach Beth Launiere said. "You can tell she's so tough. Chrissy had a smile on her face so much yesterday and after what she's been through to know that she's still battling and enjoying life was an inspiration."
After sharing her story, the Utes presented her with her own jersey. Chrissy will wear number four since it's her favorite number.
As the toughness and spirit showed while hanging out with the team, Chrissy's mom knows exactly what she'll add to the team as they battle their way through Pac-12 play.
"She's excited and we're super excited to be part of it," Turner said. "For us, to give those amazing student-athletes some energy and some extra purpose to a game they love is so amazing. Her just being there is going to be a blast for them."
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