Lakewood rallies behind 4-year-old Sam in his cancer battle

Sam Pampel (Photo courtesy of Maude Pampel)

It’s hard not to fall for Sam, I mean really, just look at that face. Last Memorial Day, when he was 3, he was diagnosed with Nueroblastoma, a particularly cruel form of cancer that attacks developing nerve cells in children. 

Luckily, the Pampel family lives in Lakewood, where people rally around each other in times of hardship. Matriarch Maude Pampel says neighbors organized meal drop offs and rides and other acts of kindness that allowed her family to focus on Sam as he battled for his life on chemotherapy. Luckily, he responded well to treatment.

“Things we’re looking good and feeling more normal and the cancer seemed to be gone, but this March we were hit with the news that it had returned,” Maude says. “Devastated, we returned back to the thick or chemo rounds and testing and lots of pokes, a 17 day hospital stay followed by five day stays every three weeks, too much for a 4 year old to take on.” 

But Maude says her neighbors have once again made it more bearable for the family. They are organizing a crawfish boil this Friday for neighbors to come together and show their support for Sam. The little fighter just finished his third round of chemo and is struggling to adjust to the harsh medication.

“He has not been able to keep anything down since Friday so they are closely monitoring him and giving him fluids,” Maude says. “We have done our best to keep Sam’s spirits good with lots of Popsicles, Lego playing and Nerf battles that help keep him smiling.” 

The event this weekend is meant to raise spirits and funds to help the family, which also includes 8-year-old daughter, Emmie.

“We have all had to grow up too fast, it is hard to see our strong-willed full of energy kid hooked up to so many machines and confined to a room,” Maude says. 

Living in a caring neighborhood has lessened the burden.

“The support of our community has been amazing and helps gives up the strength to put one -foot in front of the other and on some days when we cant, they are there with dinner or able the pick up Emmie from school,” Maude says. “You never wish to need support like this, and it is our hope to one day pay this forward.”

Organized by friends Heather Brasher and Molly Heckendorn, the crawfish boil has received donations from Rudolph’s, Chef’s Produce and Times Ten Cellars, and more than 100 people are expected to celebrate Sam. Set at a private home, the event is at capacity, but donations can still be made to help the Pampel family by emailing me here to connect with the organizers. 

Sam Pampel (Photo courtesy of Maude Pampel)