Getting back to normal

Everything is not back to normal just yet.

But it’s getting there.

Rowdy Knapschafer is at Bloomfield Elementary School for classes most days. He gets to enjoy gym class and recess with his friends. He was elected to student council.

Much of the hubbub of community fundraisers and events for the 10-year-old has quieted down. And that’s a good thing.

“We’re kind of enjoying flying under the radar and just a little bit of normal, which is kind of amazing after the past year,” said his mom, Ashley.

That year was full of hospital visits and medical treatments the Knapschafers thought they had left behind until a late-March day in 2016.

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Rowdy Knapschafer was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer, when he was 2 years old. He received treatment — it lasted for more than three years — and went into remission.

After five years, he remained in remission. That’s a milestone for ALL patients that typically means they’ve overcome cancer for good.

But five months later, Rowdy missed a few days of school and started complaining about pain in his leg and shoulders. Ashley decided her son needed to visit the doctor.

That led to the diagnosis. For the second time, he had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

He missed the rest of his second grade year of school as he underwent treatment again. He wasn’t at Bloomfield much for his third grade year either as his treatment continued. He mostly did schoolwork at home, with teacher Jenny DeHoff coming a couple of times a week to help out.

That first year, Ashley said, was rough.

But Rowdy’s outlook — his case was considered relatively low risk because he went into remission so quickly, on the 29th day of treatment — continues to improve. In March, he started maintenance treatments that will last for a full year. After that, he’ll be done, with the exception of some preventative antibiotics.

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In a word, Rowdy’s relapse was devastating, so much so that Ashley and Jeremy will never feel in the clear about their son’s health again, no matter how far past the five-year remission barrier her gets.

“I don’t know if we’ll ever get over that now,” Ashley said. “We finally got over that hump and life was good and then, ‘Bam.’”

The gut punch that was Rowdy’s relapse has caused the Knapschafers to re-evaluate life.

They’ve traveled quite a bit in the last year, taking a trip to Ocean City, Maryland, through Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation. The group specializes in hospital and respite care for critically ill children and their families. On the trip, Rowdy and his family got to spend time on the beach, ride with the Coast Guard, see the wild ponies on Assateague Island and go deep sea fishing. (Ashley was the only one who landed a catch.)

They spent fall break at Great Wolf Lodge. And there was also a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with a larger group of extended family.

A few weeks ago, they hosted a party that included what seemed like “about half of Bloomfield.”

“We’re a lot better about, ‘Work can wait. Things can wait. Life can wait,’” said Ashley. “Kids are little once. While they’re healthy, you enjoy and do what you can.”

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During the worst bouts of illness, Rowdy’s days were spent resting on his couch and playing video games. He still enjoys those, although Ashley limits them to the weekend.

On a Thursday afternoon early this month, he was sitting on the floor in front of that same couch while putting price tags on items for his grandma Freda Corwin’s primitives store and playing with his newest playmate, Willow. (The miniature dachshund was a Christmas gift last year to help keep him company during the long winter months at home.)

He had been hoping for a dog of his own, and Willow now cuddles up with him at night and anxiously awaits his return from school each day. When Rowdy gets home, he hides in the garage and his canine pal comes searching for him.

“She’s fun to play with,” he said.

Back at school, Rowdy most enjoys gym class with Josh Gibson — dodgeball is his favorite — and playing football at recess.

“I’m one of the best quarterbacks at recess and one of the best catchers,” said Rowdy, an O’Dell Beckham Jr. fan.

His friend, Grant Wendel, agrees, mostly.

“He might be the best catcher,” said Wendel. “He’s a decent thrower.”

Wendel is part of a group that refers to itself as the “Family Huddle.” Needless to say, the rest of the Bloomfield fourth graders missed Rowdy when he wasn't able to come to school.

“It didn’t feel right,” said Drew Muhlenkamp.

“His big hand wasn’t shot in the air every question to answer,” added Max Dues.

To teachers and staff, the difference is clear when Rowdy isn’t in the building as compared to when he’s at his desk.

“When he’s not here, they’re always asking about him, thinking about him,” said Ben Dues, Bloomfield’s principal and Max’s dad. “When he’s here, they know that it’s complete. It’s like that missing puzzle piece.”

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That puzzle piece is back in place most days now, though Rowdy will still need to be careful during flu season because his immune system is still weakened.

He’s hoping for those issues to be out of the way for the 2018-19 school year, eliminating the roadblocks that have kept him from some of the activities he most enjoys.

While he sometimes likes going to watch his brother, Dylan, an East Jay Middle School eighth grader, play football, he’s also jealous that he didn’t get to play.

It’s one of the biggest things he’s looking forward to as he finishes maintenance treatment, along with getting to continue to be at school every day, play with his dog and hunt crawdads with his friends.

He’ll probably continue to tire a little quicker than his buddies, but the hope is that he’ll be able to be there right alongside them.

“That’s kind of our main goal is to, once we finish treatment,” said Ashley. “Just let him be a normal kid.”