A Kansas City teen fighting an incredibly rare form of cancer is humbled by the incredible amount of support he’s received since his diagnoses.
"The support that I feel from everybody around me is what keeps me going,” said Noah Coram.
The 17-year old went to the doctor in November, thinking he had Pneumonia. A biopsy of his lung revealed cancer.
It wasn’t until January when doctors diagnosed Noah with NUT Midline Carcinoma, one of the rarest and most aggressive cancers in existence.
"There's only 100 people in the world that have had this,” said Julie Coram, Noah’s mother.
"Well it was devastating because, ya know, you find out they're giving him three to six months to live, it is a parent's nightmare,” she said.
Noah’s prognosis is terminal.
"Two survivors so far - and both of those have been caught before it spread. So we're praying Noah will be the first who heals after it spread,” said Michael Coram, Noah’s father. "Part of the training we were going through at the hospital was for him to have some input on his funeral, and that was the worst."
"He is the bravest person I know. Because he feels sick every single day. He has pain every single day. But yet he is not giving up,” said Julie.
Noah told 41 Action News the journey has been eye opening.
"Now I view life in a very different way. I value my time and just thinking back on times whenever I would like sleep in instead of going out and doing something fun, like hiking or something, it makes me realize how much wasted time I had, and that's been very hard to deal with,” he said.
And the Summit Christian Academy senior knows he’s not fighting this battle alone.
"People have just wrapped their arms around us and loved on us and supported us and tried to make Noah's days better,” said Julie.
"Things that I would never even think about doing for someone in this position, they're doing it every day,” said Michael.
Through donations and organizational offerings, Noah has been given a trip to Hawaii, a chance to ride in planes and exotic cars – anything to ensure he is able to live life to the fullest while he continues his debilitating cancer treatments.
However, there’s also been incredible monetary support for Noah and his family in order to cover the heavy burden of the rising medical bills. More than $23,000 has been raised so far on his GoFundMe page at the time of this writing. And Saturday evening at Grace Baptist Church in Lee’s Summit, more than 100 friends, family and strangers arrived for a BBQ fundraiser, many bearing shirts that read "Faith Over Fear #NoahStrong," a reminder that Noah’s support system is as strong as he is.
"I want to be known as a fighter. I don't wanna give up,” said Noah. "If someone else winds up in this position I hope that they can see me and see my battle with this and not be as scared because they can know that they will have people supporting you no matter what."
"We just wanna say thank you. It's just meant the world to us. Ya know, this is a journey you never expect to be on, and I pray that nobody else is on this journey but just the fact they have wrapped their arms around us, we're kind of a private family and they've just come out of the woodwork. We had a church in Washington State send us a prayer blanket for Noah, and we don't even know anyone there,” said Julie.
Noah also had one last message Saturday night before closing his interview with 41 Action News.
"Childhood cancer doesn't receive the funding it deserves. Because there are over -- there's 36 kids a day get diagnosed with cancer; 13,500 kids right now have cancer. And the National Cancer Institute only allows four percent of their budget on childhood cancers. It's because it's more profitable to make medicines for adults,” he said. “So the National Cancer Institute I think needs to take a look at how they're allotting their money and make a new budget."
Donate to Noah and his family through GoFundMe here.
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com
