Birthday party for infant with tumor benefits girl with cancer

Yates Graham gets a little hands-on experience with cake frosting during his first birthday. The Wynnburg boy has trouble swallowing and receives his nourishment through a tube in his digestive system. [Click to enlarge]

The goals sound fairly simple, but life's a little complicated for Taft Yates Graham. He had brain surgery when he was barely 6 months old. A tumor positioned against his brain stem threatened to affect his arm and leg functions, eyesight and eye movement, vocal chords and hearing. The tumor had already done some permanent damage: he's deaf in the left ear, is far-sighted and has trouble swallowing. He is fed through a tube in his digestive tract and is still working on basic motor skills.

He celebrated his first birthday on June 23, sitting in his high chair all by himself. He dabbled in the frosting of his birthday cake and tasted the sweet stuff on his fingers, but he wasn't allowed to take a bite. He still has problems swallowing.

Yates' birthday was definitely a day to celebrate - and an opportunity to pass on the blessings the family has enjoyed in the last year. The Grahams said they appreciated the prayers and the assistance others had given them.

"The Lord will humble you quickly and it will make you realize how much you need to help other people," Chuck said in an interview with the State Gazette last winter. "We're going to do more for people now. I think that's the positive that's going to come out of this."

They did just that on Friday night. They organized a huge birthday party for Yates and invited about 150 people, including his big brothers, Mason Meador and Morgan Meador. Instead of bringing gifts for Yates, guests were told to make donations to a 2-year-old girl who has cancer.

The girl, Mallory Paige Guthrie, lives in Dickson with her parents Dustin and Tosha Guthrie. She was diagnosed with Stage IV Embryonic Rhabdomyosarcoma, an abdominal tumor that grew to softball size in four to six weeks. Her treatment plan consists of 12 weeks of chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tumor and another 12 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. Her surgery is scheduled July 9, according to her Web page: www.caringbridge.org/visit/malloryguthri....

Yates Graham wears a non-traditional 'cowboy' hat during his first birthday. The hat bears a picture of a cowboy riding a horse. [Click to enlarge]

Rachel Graham said her cousin, Dawn Lewis of Franklin, told her about Mallory. Dawn works with a woman who is a friend of the Guthries.

"As soon as I read (Mallory's) story my heart could relate," Rachel said. She and Chuck realized this was an opportunity to begin fulfilling their promise to help others. They thought about it and prayed.

Mallory Guthrie

The answer came by way of friends who hosted a birthday party for their daughter. Instead of bringing gifts to the girl, guests were asked to make donations to Yates.

"We realized this is what we need to do for Mallory," Rachel said.

They held a special party for Yates' birthday on Friday night at First Baptist Church in Dyersburg. Terry Scott of Illusions and Balloons in Dyersburg offered to bring his magic act, balloon creations and face-painting talents to the party for free. The Grahams also organized a silent auction with gift baskets and items donated by businesses and individuals in Dyer and Lake counties.

They also sold magnetic car decals and rubbery armbands printed with "Brain Tumor Awareness" on one side and "Pray for Yates" on the other side.

Chuck estimated 60-70 persons attended the party and many more made donations - bringing the total raised to about $3,600. Chuck said he anticipates a few more donations and hopes the total will rise to $4,000.

"That's a lot better than we were expecting," he said, nothing that neither he nor his wife had ever previously organized a fund-raiser.

"It feels good to help somebody else," he said.

Contributions may be mailed to the Grahams at 2235 Wynnburg-Bluebank Road, Tiptonville, TN 38079. Checks should be made payable to Tosha Guthrie.