ZOE FARRELL

Life in ‘Zoe Mo’ full of perseverance, pain

UPDATE: Dec. 24, 2009

By LIZ BALMASEDA
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Zoe Farrell wanted a pink guitar. The 7-year-old cancer patient got her wish last week, thanks to the folks at Chafin Musicenter in Lake Worth.

The Chafin family and the store’s staff not only granted the guitar wish, but also lavished the Boynton Beach girl and her little brother with new bicycles. At the Palm Beach Kennel Club later that afternoon came a family-sized gift from kennel club president Pat Rooney Jr. and Al Packer Ford: a brand-new SUV, a 2010 cherry-red Ford Edge.

Zoe’s story has generated an outpouring of support for her and her struggling family. The lively girl, whose kinetic energy has been dubbed “Zoe-Mo” by caregivers, has endured eight operations, chemotherapy and radiation treatments to target a chest tumor nearly the size of a soccer ball.

One West Palm Beach girl was so inspired by Zoe’s courage that she gave up all her birthday presents in her honor. Jamie Rapp, a fifth-grader at Rosarian Academy, asked her friends to donate to Season to Share in lieu of giving her presents. Last week, on her 11th birthday, she delivered a donation check for $710 to The Post’s main offices.

“When I read her story I thought it must have been very difficult to have so many surgeries when you’re just 7 years old,” said Jamie, who, like Zoe, loves music.

In a year when charities across the nation felt the squeeze of economic hardships, Post readers have responded to this year’s nominees with early signs of characteristic generosity.

“The generosity of Palm Beach Post readers is amazing. Last year, in the heart of the recession, readers donated a record amount of money to help their community. This year is another impressive year for Season to Share — because Post readers know their neighbors are suffering, and they know we all have to join together to help each other,” said Jan Tuckwood, Post presentation editor and president of the Season to Share board.

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ORIGINAL STORY: Dec. 16, 2009

By CHARLES PASSY
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Ignore the huge scar running across the side of her chest. Pay no attention to her nearly bald head. Those are just physical manifestations of Zoe Farrell’s cancer.

The real Zoe — the pint-sized second-grader who fills a room with a kinetic energy that some caregivers describe as “Zoe Mo” (the opposite of slo-mo) — remains very much alive.

It doesn’t take more than a morning visit to her home in Boynton Beach to reach this conclusion. Of course, that’s provided you can pause long enough while Zoe commands your attention with her artistic talents or fills you in on her latest school science report.

These days, however, Zoe must learn her lessons from home. After a grueling year’s worth of surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation to treat a large tumor growing in her chest, the honor-roll student is not quite ready to head back to Citrus Cove Elementary. Her immune system is still severely compromised. Her medical journey is far from over.

“I’ve had eight surgeries in my whole life, and I’m only seven,” says Zoe, who nevertheless speaks so cheerily that she all but defies you to take pity on her.

It all began a year ago. Zoe’s mom noticed her daughter was panting a bit, but thought Zoe was just being her elfin jokester self. When the panting continued after bedtime, mom knew something was wrong.

After a trip to a walk-in clinic and an immediate visit to Palms West Hospital, Zoe was airlifted to Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was rushed into surgery. A tumor nearly the size of a soccer ball was pressing on the girl’s lungs and heart.

Zoe won the battle, but faced a protracted war of surgeries and treatments as her family dealt with mounting medical bills — at least $25,000 — not covered by insurance. Add to that the expenses incurred while Zoe underwent radiation in Jacksonville and the fact that Victoria was unable to work. She stayed at Zoe’s bedside while her husband, John, a customer service specialist at Office Depot’s corporate center, cared for their 4-year-old son, Eli.

The Farrells are hard-working people who have managed to persevere. But cancer takes its toll — on the patient and the family. They are emotionally and financially drained. Ironically, their chief source of strength has been Zoe herself.

As for Zoe, she’s eager to get back to school, take guitar lessons and resume ballet classes. And she can’t wait to ride her bike again. After all, when you’re running on “Zoe Mo” time, there’s a lot of life to be lived.

ZOE’S WISH

Zoe’s family needs assistance with countless household expenses, such as food, gas and car repairs (the AC in their 15-year-old Saturn doesn’t work and the tires and headliner need to be replaced). Zoe’s dad, John, remains hard at work at Office Depot, but his job’s insurance doesn’t cover thousands in medical expenses. The family is also hoping to provide Zoe with guitar lessons, buy a few Christmas presents, and enjoy the sort of family activities they’ve long denied themselves, such as visiting an Orlando theme park, attending the South Florida Fair, or simply seeing a movie. Zoe and her brother also need new bikes.