Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MAGNA — For the first time since being diagnosed with cancer, 15-year-old Alexis Gould danced with her high school drill team as they performed a dance choreographed specially for her.
The team performed their “Fight Song” dance last September at the first football game Alexis attended after her diagnosis, but she couldn’t join them. The high school student was diagnosed with neuroblastoma last year after the dance team performed its Homecoming routine.
Wednesday night, the Cyprus Spinnakers performed their dance review, and Alexis wanted to dance with them. Alexis loved being able to dance with her team again, according to her mom, Emily Gould.
“It’s taken everything she has, she’s exhausted physically, but she said that it’s nice to be tired from doing something that she loves rather than just being tired from treatment,” Emily Gould said.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as the Spinnakers danced, according to Emily Gould. Alexis is still undergoing treatment, doesn’t have any hair and has lost a lot of weight.
“To see her out there knowing that she is fighting to take back her life, that she’s still got that fight left in her, that she’s not letting cancer decide whether or not she gets to participate or do the things that she loves, that she is making that stance, was a beautiful thing, was very inspirational to everyone from what I’ve heard,” Emily Gould said.
As part of their dance, the team spells “hope.” One of Alexis’ teammates, Sierra Holmes, choreographed it.
“Just right after they had found out that she’d been diagnosed, all of these emotions were so high and this was their way of showing her that they would be there to support her throughout her journey and … believed in her that they knew that she still had this strength, this fight,” Emily Gould said. “And so it was really beautiful, and to see her perform it with them last night was amazing.”
Related:
Utah high schools rally around dancer with cancer
Cyprus High School dancer Alexis Gould was recently diagnosed with a childhood cancer, and residents in her community and across the state are proving she is not alone.Sierra Holmes said she thinks the dance has a lot of meaning because the song talks about getting her life back and her strength.
It was hard for Alexis to dance that night, Emily Gould said, but her mom thought she did a fantastic job.
Since her diagnosis, doctors have been able to remove the entirety of Alexis’ tumor, which was a huge miracle, her mom said. She will soon undergo a stem cell transplant.
