Return to Main Menu

Family brings hope, kindness to young patients by Alex Jackson Public Relations While most teenage girls are thinking of boys and makeup, along with the strain of adolescence, Rayna Stewart was dealing with enormous struggles — those of living with an incurable disease.   Rayna spent her young teenage years enduring many days and nights in the hospital for treatment of a malignant brain tumor.   Despite her sickness, Rayna maintained a caring, giving spirit; while she managed to always keep a smile on her face. At age 15 in 2007, she lost her three-year battle with brain cancer.   Inspired by the care she received at Children’s Hospital, Rayna’s family found a way to remember Rayna by helping to brighten the lives of young people with cancer.   A Ray’z of Hope was founded by Sheran Stewart, Rayna’s mother, and Kanani Stone, Rayna’s cousin; through which the first set of care packages were presented to newly-diagnosed cancer patients in the Children’s Hospital on June 27. These packages, provided by the two women, included coloring books, crayons, journals, CD players, and other quality-of-life items for the children of Rayna's former hospital unit.   Providing a ray of hope, assuring these weary, sick youngsters that everything will be all right, has become the organization’s mission.   For information about A  Ray’z of Hope, visit http://www.arayzofhope.org.     Friday, July 11, 2008 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.