People giving 'Thumbs up' to Kentucky boy fighting cancer - WDRB 41 Louisville - News, Weather, Sports Community

People giving 'Thumbs up' to Kentucky boy fighting cancer

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)---Lane Goodwin has been in and out of hospitals across the country, including in Louisville. There is now a worldwide effort to support him.

The last two years have not been easy for the 13-year-old.

"He has Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma," says Lane's dad, George Goodwin.

It's a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer that he was diagnosed with in March of 2010.

In an instant, life changed for the young McLean County boy. Chemotherapy and radiation became part of his life. He's now battling the cancer for a third time.

"Right now he has spurts. He gets sick and then there's times when he has 15-20 minutes of energy. Wants to get out of his bed," says George Goodwin.

On this day, after a rough morning for Lane, we connected with him through Face Time while he was in bed.

"How are you," we asked him.

"Fine," Lane said as he gave the thumbs up sign.

It's the 'Thumbs up' campaign for Lane that's sweeping the country.

U of L football players, UK basketball coach John Calipari, singers Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, and Rob Thomas, firefighters, soldiers, Disney characters, and a player from Lane's favorite baseball team (The St. Louis Cardinals), are all supporting him online.

"I go, who is your favorite, and he pointed at his mom," says George Goodwin.

Among this outpouring of support, the Goodwin family continues to stay strong for the teen and are fighting to save his life.

"He accepts where his fate is, where his role is, and he has a pretty strong belief and a pretty strong faith," says George Goodwin.

It's that faith that Lane continues to hold on to, with gratitude for those standing behind him.

"Thank you," Lane said in reference to his supporters.

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month and Lane's mother believes her son's story is helping to bring awareness to it.

To see Lane's Facebook page, and share your 'Thumbs up' photo with him, click here.

Copyright 2012 WDRB News.  All Rights Reserved.

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  • Thanks to a grant from Norton Healthcare, this story and others are available in real-time closed captioning on WDRB.
    Thanks to a grant from Norton Healthcare, this story and others are available in real-time closed captioning on WDRB.