THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601050148
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Jonelle Day celebrates a special anniversary this year.
The Churchland High School student has been cancer-free for nearly two years.
Today she is president of the Student Council Association, a forward on the girls soccer team and is an active member of Distributive Education Clubs of America.
But four years ago, Day was an eighth-grader fraught with fatigue, swollen joints and a loss of appetite.
Doctors initially thought she had an eating disorder.
``I kept telling them that wasn't it,'' the 18-year-old said.
When she tried to eat, she would get sick, she said.
In the winter of her freshman year, Day was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, a malignant lymphoma.
``It was about the size of a grapefruit,'' she said of her tumor. ``And it was in between my lungs.''
Chemotherapy treatments began immediately and continued for a year - weekly at first, then every two weeks and monthly at the very end.
After each treatment, the teenager would battle nausea, headaches, high fevers and cold sweats for about two days.
But in one respect, Day considered herself lucky. She didn't lose her hair.
All the while, the teen continued her studies at Churchland High School.
``It was kind of hard because a lot of times I would miss my classes, and I would have to catch up,'' she said.
``I had a tutor for two weeks, but other than that, I've been on my own,'' she said.
After graduating in June, Day plans to attend Virginia Wesleyan College to major in business. Her goal is to become a buyer for a major department store.
One of two daughters of a Coast Guardsman, Day has some simple advice for other teens who may be facing a life-threatening illness: Don't dwell on it.
``Think about things that happened before you got sick,'' she said. ``Think about things that make you happy because your mind can help you get well.''
But a positive attitude wasn't the only therapy that helped in Day's recovery.
``I think what helped me get well was a lot of prayer,'' she said.
Name: Jonelle Tyree Marie Day.
Nickname: Do you honestly think I would tell you?
Birthdate: Nov. 18, 1977.
School and grade: Churchland High, 12th grade.
Parents: Beverly O. Day and Johnnie T. Day.
Siblings: Kimberly Y. Day, 16.
Pet: Jaycee (``The Baby'').
Favorite subjects: Tie between English and marketing.
Favorite food: Bread.
Favorite restaurant: Fazoli's.
Hobbies: Soccer, DECA, Student Council Association.
Favorite movies: ``Forrest Gump'' and ``Interview With the Vampire.''
Favorite song or musical group: ``Wu Tang.''
Favorite sport: Soccer all the way.
Favorite magazine: YM.
Last book read for fun: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's ``Frankenstein.''
Favorite TV shows: I really don't have a favorite TV show. I prefer to watch videos or flip until I find something. I do like nature and science stuff - most of all supernatural.
Last smart thing you did: Became a member of DECA. It's a steppingstone to what I want to do in life. I also joined Grove Baptist Church.
Last dumb thing you did: Can't think of anything right now. All of us have made a boo boo sometimes.
Pet peeves: A whole lot of junk in the yard, like white trees, fences, plastic animals, flower windmills, statues.
Who are your heroes: My mom and her sister, Valerie Tillett (Auntie V), and Dana Taylor-Burt. My close friends like Jeff, Dorothy, Lucy, Chris, Charlotte and Arthur because they are headstrong and their personalities make me smile.
Your worst habit: Hmmm. There's a few. Leaving cabinet doors open, sucking my tongue, stubborn attitude.
Last vacation: Disney World. Make-A-Wish paid for it. My family and I had an excellent time.
Favorite way to spend a day: Going out with family or friends spending money or going around wishing we had the money to buy our wants.
If you had 15 minutes on national television, what would you discuss? The lack of common sense our government has. Duh! You have other people to think about besides yourselves. Election Day, it's time to take out the trash. I will be there to cast my first ballot in November. Get out of the toy store, guys. To me, politics is a popularity game. Can I get an ``Amen?''
When I get older, I want to be: I want to be a buyer for a major department store. Sears, give me a ring. Then I'll head up to New York to live and work for a store. Make room, Manhattan. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Jonelle Day
by CNB