KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) -
Shawnee Mission North students on Thursday turned out to support a senior battling a brain tumor.
Daran Wankum was a proud member of his school's NJROTC team. The senior had enlisted in the United States Marine Corps with plans to join the service after graduating in May.
But then he began to experience severe migraines and double vision. He had a brain tumor, and emergency surgery was scheduled.
"Daran is a strong young man, and surgery to remove the tumor was successful," Ginger Stallings wrote to KCTV5 in an email. "Chemotherapy is about to begin, and he's got a long tough road ahead of him."
The family is struggling with the medical bills. Classmates have sold T-shirts that say "Semper Fi Daran" on it, along with "Stand with Love, Loyalty and Honor in Support for Daran Wankum." More than $1,000 has been raised.
The school prepared a banner to honor and show support. Classmates and faculty clad in their T-shirts went to the University of Kansas Hospital on Thursday to deliver the banner and other get well posters.
"For us, it's more we wanted to reassure him we didn't leave him," said classmate Autumn Coleman, who helped organize the T-shirt drive. "It's reassuring for us he'll be fine. We haven't forgotten him."
Wankum's mother, Cheryl Wankum, said the symptoms came out of nowhere on Sept. 12 when he complained about problems with his vision.
"From double vision to a biopsy, shunt, port and five surgeries later in less than a month," she said.
Daran Wankum began chemotherapy this week and said the outpouring of support definitely is good medicine for his spirits.
"I feel honored to be honest. I didn't think this would ever happen to me," he said. "Never in a million years did I think this would happen to me."
His parents had asked Daran Wankum's recruiter to send a Marine to stand at his hospital door for one night. Not only was that request granted the night before a surgery, but numerous Marines showed up to support him.
"It meant the world. That's like my second family," he said. "The fact they showed up and supported me meant a lot to me."
Daran Wankum and his family are overwhelmed by the support and eternally grateful. His mother said she has become teary eyed to know that so many people care about her son and her family.
Additional fundraisers are planned. Look for Daran's Project on Facebook or at Mission Bank, 5800 Foxridge Dr., Mission, KS 66202.
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