A Star Among Stars

From L: Shawn, Kailey, Kenadie and Kapri Geernaert with family member Aiden.
Photos by F.D. Purcell

By F.D.Purcell

Sports in the Bay/Antioch Herald

Many fans show up to Golden State Warriors games early in hopes of shaking hands or getting a photo op with their favorite player and this Thursday was no different. Except this time the roles were reversed; Warriors players shook hands and took photos with someone sitting court side near their bench.

That person would be six year-old Santa Rosa resident Kapri Geernaert who’s a star in her own right but unfortunately not under the best circumstances. Geernaert is one of the many faces of children who have battled brain cancer. With nearly 7k 'Likes' on her Facebook page Kapri has also been honored by the World Champion San Francisco Giants to name a few.

Last June after months of battling flu-like symptoms Kapri's illness would come to a head. While riding in the car with her mother Becki she suffered a seizure and the Geernaert's would receive the news that no parent should ever have to hear, their five year-old daughter had a brain tumor. 

Medulloblastoma is a cancer mass that starts in the brain and spreads throughout the body. The most common malignant brain tumor of children, Medulloblastoma accounts for 20% of all childhood brain tumors and affects 250-500 of U.S. children yearly. It is not hereditary.

Kapri w/St. Jude NBA Ambassador Dave Lee (far right) and guard Steph Curry.

“The past year has been crazy, a lot of anxiety,” said her father Shawn who contributed to St. Jude before Kapri's diagnosis and chose she received treatment there because of its stellar history treating children.

Doctors would eventually find multiple tumors peppered throughout her spine and brain areas, one the size of a walnut that was removed. The others were smaller and did not require removal.

In honor of the NBA’s Hoops for St. Jude Week April 3-9 Warriors forward David Lee, a St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ambassador since 2011 hosted a pregame meet and greet with Geernaert and her family and donated $75,000 during a visit to the hospital last month.

"I was asked to be a part of it and I did my research beforehand. I felt like it was something great to be a part of. Once I visited St. Jude I immediately tripled my donation," said Lee who took it upon himself to also learn about other families at St. Jude in addition to the Geenaert's. "Hearing the stories made it all worth it to me and I'll be a part of it long after I'm out of the NBA."

Sitting with her big sisters, 11 year-old Kenadie and 9 year-old Kailey and 11 year-old cousin Aiden, the Geernaert girls describe their little sister as ‘funny’ and ‘cute,’ who ‘likes to do crazy things.’

Although they couldn’t be with their sister daily once she was moved to the St. Jude facility in Memphis in the June of last year, they kept her spirits up by giving her candy and face-time. They also helped with household chores of laundry and dishes at home to take the stress off their dad who commuted between the Bay Area and Tennessee.

“We love St. Jude, it’s a home away from home,’ said Becki who was not in attendance Thursday but face-timed with Shawn, becoming emotional when she saw Kapri’s interaction with Warriors players.

Donning a Warriors cap and personalized jersey with her name on the back the soft-spoken first grader told Sports in the Bay she enjoyed doing crafts and her favorite player was ‘#30,” because she ‘likes the way he shoots.’ For those of you living under a rock this season that would be two time all-star and MVP candidate Stephen Curry.

Kapri w/Warrior Dance Team members Danielle and JeKailah

The Geernaerts credits their Faith and church, Spring Hills Church for providing a wealth of support over this past nine months along with a host of family and friends who held fundraising events and offered words of prayer and encouragement.

"St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life threatening diseases," said St. Jude representative Adam Casey.

After seven rounds (five weeks of radiation) of chemotherapy and an 8-month residence in Memphis Kapri returned home a few weeks ago and is adjusting well. She enjoys visiting her classmates daily and is excited about returning to school.

"I would encourage people to give $5 or $10, anything to St. Jude because it's going to a great cause," said Becki.

Learn more about Kapri on her Facebook page: Kapri Geernaert.

Follow us on Twitter: @sportsinthebay_

‘Like’ us on Facebook at: Sports in the Bay