Woman grateful to be alive spreads Christmas joy

A local woman said her bout with colon cancer opened her eyes to do things for other people.

Almost five years ago Carressa Edwards-White spent a more than a year going from doctor to doctor complaining about her symptoms. She felt like she was dying, she said.

One young doctor took her seriously and discovered she had stage IIIC cancer. 

"The doctor told me that if I had waited two more months I wouldn't be talking to him," Edwards-White said. 

She will celebrate three years being cancer free in December.

Her cancer scare has driven her to do things for other people. As a result, she has organized an annual Christmas toy drive for the last two years for children in need.

This year's event will feature Olaf, a Disney character from the movie "Frozen," Optimus Prime, from the movie "Transformers" and Spiderman. There will also be 13 Disney princesses. All movie characters will be live.

Attendees should bring at least one new, unwrapped toy and a coloring book. Edwards-White said there are a lot of kids in need, and she just wants to help the community. Last year, donors provided around 300 toys. 

"Hopefully, this one will blow it away," she said.

Toys will be donated to Hilldale Public School resource officers. Hilldale's angel tree is in the upper elementary's school library. These angels are unique. Along with the school child having an angel, all of his or her siblings have an angel, too, said Anelicia Brimacomb, elementary school counselor who organized the drive.

And there are two angels per child — one for each child's wants and one for each child's needs, Brimacomb said. Angels reflect typical children's wants — football, baseball, CDs, arts and crafts, Barbie dolls and more.

Brimacomb said the school has a lot of kids living with their grandparents and single moms who relocate frequently. She said that it's upsetting and sad to see children in this situation. 

"We try to help where we can and every time we rise to the occasion," she said.

The angel tree is open for people to select an angel and purchase gifts, said Resource Officer Danny Spears. Everybody is enthusiastic about adopting an angel. Help comes from parents, faculty, Hilldale cheer groups, PTOs and Scout troops.

Resource Officer Nick Ford said that last year, the gifts wouldn't fit in their police cars so they had to use the school's van. Delivering gifts is "an overall great experience witnessing the excitement, tears and hugs by the school kids and family members."

Reach Mark Hughes at (918) 684-2908 or mhughes@muskogeephoenix.com.

You can help

WHAT: Third annual Christmas toy drive.

WHEN: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: In front of former Sears store inside Arrowhead Mall. 

INFORMATION: Bring at least one, new unwrapped toy and a coloring book. Live Disney characters will be present, and free professional photographs provided.