THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 29, 1996 TAG: 9603290047
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 113 lines
DANIEL AARON Schoepflin survived a near-death experience and emerged with a greater appreciation for life. He now makes a conscious effort to give more to others than he receives.
A cancerous tumor, the size of a baseball, was discovered lodged in his brain.
The doctors discovered the disease after Dan suffered a seizure. Awakening during the middle of the night, he went to the bathroom and started having convulsions - smashing his head repeatedly against the bathtub. His parents immediately contacted the hospital.
Dan was on the operating table for nearly 11 hours. His head was cut from ear to ear, his scalp pulled forward and pinned to his nose. The surgeons found and removed as much of the tumor as they could. Complete removal of the diseased area would have cost Dan his sight.
Still, Dan's vision is impaired. He is blind in one eye and has only tunnel vision in the other.
Few people have survived what Dan has encountered. He emerged from this ordeal with eight metal clamps and 32 screws embedded in his skull, held in place by 47 stitches.
``When my friends say that I'm all screwed up, they are right. I really am,'' he joked.
Though Dan gives much of himself, he thinks he hasn't contributed enough.
We disagree. In an age of few suitable role models, we have found one. His name is Dan Aaron Schoepflin. A very special person, he does not need to search for heroes. All he has to do is look in a mirror.
My full, entire birth name: Daniel Aaron Schoepflin
I was born: May 30, 1978
Job: Irwin's Pharmacy
Bros and sisters: Three brothers and two sisters
Educationally speaking, I am . . . a junior at Kempsville High School.
My school in three words: lots of encouragement
The killer day means . . . working with children at The Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters.
Boy, I was pretty smart when . . . I received my academic letter (3.2 academic average.)
But I sure felt like an idiot after . . . I mistook a guy for a girl. I asked him, ``Can you tell me where the restroom is, ma'am?''
When I have a crazy midnight snack craving, I want . . . microwaved popcorn.
My personal Oscars go to . . . to the film, ``My Girl''
The song of the century: ``Heal the World'' by Michael Jackson
The grooviest musical artists: Mozart, Beethoven and Bach
When I don't have anything else to do, I'm . . . at The Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters helping with the patients.
Best date I've had . . . was when my girlfriend offered to pay for the meal.
And the worst? That was when I had won midnight cruise tickets to The Spirit of Norfolk. My date and I were the only ones under 21. Everyone else was drinking alcoholic beverages.
If I could change one thing about me, I . . . would be capable of offering more encouragement to other cancer patients.
I wish my parents . . . would always be the people they are today. When I was sick, they were always there for me, treating me like I was someone special.
The best place for mouth-watering chow: Hard Rock Cafe, Orlando, Fla.
I love shopping at . . . Greenbrier Mall.
The ultimate night on the town would include . . . shopping at Greenbrier Mall, seeing a movie and having dinner.
I make special arrangements to watch . . . ``The Nanny.''
The last time I had a vacation . . . I visited Camp Sunshine in Maine. It is a special facility for families of kids with cancer.
My best job: Throwing papers for The Virginian-Pilot.
And the worst? No job is a bad job as long as you get paid.
I can easily brag about . . . my volunteer work at The Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters. This year, I am in third place with 550 hours.
In 10 years, I'd like to be . . . an elementary school teacher - kindergarten or first grade.
If I could change one thing in America I would . . . replace the President. The country has gotten more screwed up since Clinton has been in there.
My heroes: My parents, doctors, nurses, staff at Kempsville High School, friends and an insurance lady named Karen. Without her, the medical bills would have bankrupted my parents.
I am totally unique because . . . not only have I survived cancer, I still go back to the hospital to help other cancer patients.
What makes you mad? I am angered by the way students disrespect their teachers, talk back to them.
If a film were made about your life, what would be the dramatic turning point? It would either be hearing the doctors' diagnosis or learning I was in remission.
Who would star in it? Professional actors and actresses could not do the roles justice. I would cast my surgeon, Dr. Frank Shinco, and the the other doctors and nurses in the starring roles.
I should be a veejay on MTV because . . . I DO NOT LIKE MTV. I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE A VEEJAY ON MTV.
If I was a guest on a talk show, it would be: I DON'T WATCH THEM.
My life summed up in four words: Thank God for friends. MEMO: This story was written by the Larkspur Middle School Writer's Guild
under the direction of Les Fortune. Members of the guild are Ronise
Burns, Tiffany Nixon, Tracy Phelps, Charlene Fuentes, Katie Baines,
Mandy Rose, Robbie Carpenter, Paul Manansala and Daniel Perez.
ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Larkspur Middle School students, from left, Tiffany Nixon, Tracy
Phelps, Charlene Fuentes, Katie Baines, Mandy Rose, Robbie
Carpenter, Paul Manansala and Daniel Perez compiled this story. Also
contributing but not pictured is Ronise Burns.
CHARLIE MEADS/The Virginian-Pilot
Daniel Schoepflin, a junior at Kempsville, underwent surgery for
cancer and is now in remission.
by CNB