Tiny Mississippi leukemia survivor has wish granted, becomes Ole Miss cheerleader for a day
Published 3:48 pm Wednesday, November 13, 2019
When Rowan was declared free of leukemia on Sept. 3, that same day she was on the field at her brother’s football game working up the crowd alongside South Pontotoc Middle School’s cheerleaders. She’s become interested in the sport since her illness subsided and she’s been able to venture out of the house and be exposed to new things.
Inside Tad Smith, big smiles greeted the small figure as she emerged from the portal and walked out on the squad’s practice area. She was given her own set of Ole Miss pompoms and a T-shirt, as well as a poster signed by the entire cheer team.
Head cheer coach Ryan O’Connor said her brother, Trent Martin, beat the same kind of leukemia Rowan had in 2013, so she cherishes an opportunity help out with Ole Miss Wish.
“This is why you want to be an Ole Miss cheerleader,” O’Connor said. “You want to make a difference in people’s lives. Just to know she wanted to spend her wish with the Ole Miss cheerleaders is really special.
“We’re glad she’s healthy and excited and that she gets to be on the field with us.”
The whole squad has learned from the experience, O’Connor said.
“They sometimes don’t realize that when you’re in that Ole Miss uniform, people think you are a superhero,” O’Connor said. “I always tell them to soak it up because after the last time you wear the uniform, people don’t look at you like that anymore.”
Cheerleaders Maddie Van and Brianna Berry said after practice that they were honored to spend the weekend with Rowan.
“She is the cutest thing,” said Berry, a sophomore biology major from Brandon. “It’s so rewarding to be in this position to have people who come in and love us and to be able to make their day. She’ll remember this for the rest of her life.”
