Cancer survivor honored at bowling benefit

Ten-year-old Coltyn Capps was the honoree at the Greater Dyersburg Area USBC Bowling Association's 35th annual St. Jude Bowling Benefit, which raised $4,000 for St. Jude. Capps was diagnosed with a rare form of tissue cancer, which required doctors to remove his right arm and part of both lungs. The cancer has been in remission for two years and now Capps is participating in sports and has a free lifetime membership at the local bowling alley.

The event raised over $4,000 for St. Jude and a plaque will be placed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in Memphis, in honor of the young Capps.

When Coltyn was 5 he was diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma, which is a rare soft-tissue cancer. Since that time he has been a patient at St. Jude and had to endure chemotherapy and radiation.

The officers and directors of the Greater Dyersburg Area USBC Bowling Association pose with the event's honoree, Coltyn Capps. The plaque with Capps' name will be placed at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. Kneeling from left - Ray Frealy, Coltyn Capps, Scott McIver and Terry Atkins. Back row from left- Marvin Scearce, Kenneth Maxwell (league president), Jeff Taylor, Fred Cherry and Greg 'Smitty' Smith.

"He was pretty much an experiment with the chemo," said his father, Mike Capps. "It had never been treated with chemo before."

Apart from the chemo and radiation, Coltyn has had 11 surgeries and had to have part of his lungs removed. His right arm was also amputated three years ago due to the cancer. Another obstacle for Coltyn was he was right-handed and had to learn how to do everything left-handed.

Although Coltyn may be with one less limb he is adapting to life after surgery and going forward.

These are the winners from the 35th annual St. Jude Bowling Benefit. From left are Mike Morgan, Afton Elam, Mike Fortenberry (first-place winner), McKenzie Adams and Coty Gammons.

"He's dealt with it better than anybody that I know of that could have done it," said Mike Capps. "You take people who just meet him and they swear he was born like that."

Coltyn is so active that he is on his fourth or fifth prosthetic arm, which now has an electronic hand.

He also likes to ride bicycles and plays soccer and Pee Wee Football.

"If he shows an interest in it, we let him go after it," said Mike Capps.

Coltyn has three other siblings and even beat his 17-year-old brother in bowling at the benefit.

Coltyn's cancer has been in remission for two years and he will soon start having his checkups every six months at St. Jude. The checkups usually last a week and the family will stay at Grizzly House while they are there.

In the meantime, Coltyn can be seen riding, running and even bowling whenever he can, in an attempt to regain the five years he has lost.

"He's still catching up," said Mike Capps. "He's our miracle."