TO NOON. WELL, A CANCER SURVIVOR AT NORTHWEST RANKIN MIDDLE SCHOOL RECEIVED THE SURPRISE OF A LIFETIME FROM A TEAM THAT HAS WRAPPED THEIR ARMS AROUND HIM FROM THE START OF HIS FIGHT WITH THE DISEASE. 16 WAPT MICHAELA FRANKLIN HAS THE INSPIRING STORY OF HIS FIGHT AND HIS COMMUNITY SUPPORT. >> IF THESE HALLS AT NORTHWEST RANKIN MIDDLE SCHOOL COULD TALK. THEY WOULD SAY HUNTER BURKHALTER IS A WALKING INSPIRATION. >> THE JOURNEY THAT I鈥橵E BEEN THROUGH HAS BEEN A LOT. >> LAST YEAR, HUNTER WENT FACE TO FACE WITH THE CANCER THAT WOULD FORCE DOCTORS TO PERFORM A LIFE CHANGING SURGERY. >> AT 11 YEARS OLD, I HAD OSTEOSARCOMA, WHICH IS A CANCER. WE WENT TO SAINT JUDE TO GET TREATED. A FEW WEEKS AFTER BEGINNING TREATMENT, I HAD AN AMPUTATION. >> HUNTER MISSED OUT ON A YEAR OF SCHOOL, BUT HIS NORTHWEST RANKIN MIDDLE SCHOOL PRIDE NEVER WENT AWAY. >> GO OUT THERE AND GET THE WIN TONIGHT, FREAKS. >> THAT鈥橲 A VIDEO TAKEN IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, WHILE HUNTER UNDERWENT CHEMOTHERAPY. THE NOW 12 YEAR OLD SENT IT TO NORTHWEST RANKIN HEAD FOOTBALL COACH DEVIN COOPER, ALONG WITH THE TEAM THAT HAS STOOD BEHIND HUNTER ALL THE WAY. >> I鈥橫 TRYING TO DO MY BEST TO GET MY TEAM AND US TO HELP HIM AND MAN, HE WAS HELPING US THURSDAY THAT SAME FOOTBALL TEAM RETURNED THAT SAME FAVOR. >> WHAT鈥橲 UP HUNTER? THIS WEEK WE鈥橰E GOING TO INVITE YOU TO BE THE HONORARY CAPTAIN THIS WEEK. YOU鈥橰E GONNA WALK OUT WITH US. DEER CREEK. HEY, IT ONLY TAKES SECONDS OF TALKING WITH HUNTER TO SEE WHY HE MEANS SO MUCH TO THIS TEAM. >> YOU鈥橰E TRYING TO DO SOMETHING FOR HIM, AND YOU LEAVE HERE MORE BLESSED BY THAT YOUNG MAN AND WHAT HE DOES. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU TO BE AN INSPIRATION HERE AT NORTHWEST RANKIN? >> I鈥橫 JUST SO PROUD THAT I CAN HELP PEOPLE IN THEIR IN THEIR LIVES AS WELL. HOWEVER HARD ANYTHING IS, YOU CAN GET THROUGH IT. >> THAT WAS 16. WHAT鈥橲 MICHAILA FRANKLIN REPORTING? THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS FOR CAPTAIN HUNTER. HE IS NOW IN REMISSION. HE SAYS HE PLANS TO CALL HEADS DURING THE COIN TOSS BEFORE
12-year-old cancer survivor given special honor by his favorite football team
Hunter Burkhalter is a walking inspiration
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Updated: 10:41 PM CDT Sep 28, 2024
A cancer survivor at Northwest Rankin Middle School in Flowood, Mississippi, received the surprise of a lifetime from a team that鈥檚 wrapped their arms around him from the start of his fight with the disease.鈥淭he journey that I鈥檝e been through has been a lot,鈥� Hunter Burkhalter said. Last year, Hunter faced a cancer that would force doctors to perform a life-changing surgery.鈥淎t 11 years old, I had osteosarcoma, which is a cancer. We went to (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital) to get treated, and a few weeks after treatment, I had an amputation,鈥� Hunter said. Hunter missed a year of school, but his Northwest Rankin pride never went away. While undergoing chemotherapy in September last year, Hunter shot a video cheering on the Northwest Rankin High School football team. He sent it to head football coach Devin Cooper and the team that has stood behind Hunter.鈥淚鈥檓 trying my best to get my team and us to help him, and man, he was helping us,鈥� Cooper said. On Thursday, the football team returned the favor. They asked him to be honorary captain for this week鈥檚 game. Hunter will walk out with the team before the game.鈥淵ou鈥檙e trying to do something for him, and you leave here more blessed by that young man and what he does,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just so proud that I can help people in their lives, as well,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淗owever hard anything is, you can get through it.鈥滺unter is now in remission. The sixth grader said he plans to call heads during the coin toss before Northwest Rankin takes on Brookhaven High School on Friday night.
A cancer survivor at Northwest Rankin Middle School in Flowood, Mississippi, received the surprise of a lifetime from a team that鈥檚 wrapped their arms around him from the start of his fight with the disease.
鈥淭he journey that I鈥檝e been through has been a lot,鈥� Hunter Burkhalter said.
Last year, Hunter faced a cancer that would force doctors to perform a life-changing surgery.
鈥淎t 11 years old, I had osteosarcoma, which is a cancer. We went to (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital) to get treated, and a few weeks after treatment, I had an amputation,鈥� Hunter said.
Hunter missed a year of school, but his Northwest Rankin pride never went away. While undergoing chemotherapy in September last year, Hunter shot a video cheering on the Northwest Rankin High School football team. He sent it to head football coach Devin Cooper and the team that has stood behind Hunter.
鈥淚鈥檓 trying my best to get my team and us to help him, and man, he was helping us,鈥� Cooper said.
On Thursday, the football team returned the favor. They asked him to be honorary captain for this week鈥檚 game. Hunter will walk out with the team before the game.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e trying to do something for him, and you leave here more blessed by that young man and what he does,鈥� Cooper said.
鈥淚鈥檓 just so proud that I can help people in their lives, as well,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淗owever hard anything is, you can get through it.鈥�
Hunter is now in remission. The sixth grader said he plans to call heads during the coin toss before Northwest Rankin takes on Brookhaven High School on Friday night.
