(Vicky Graff Photo)
One terrific thing that Kentucky does for every home football game is have a “Lift Them Up Kid” to honor and recognize each one for obstacles they have overcome in their lives.
The program was started in 2018 to “uplift the spirits of patients and families at UK HeathCare’s Kentucky Children’s Hospital” and share their stories with others.
This week’s honoree is 8-year-old Adi Jane of Danville. She will lead the team during the Cat Walk in a custom-built push cart. Jane and her family will also get to hang out with the players and coaches this week before Saturday afternoon’s game with Ole Miss. Jane will be at practices, tour the locker room and even break huddles with the players.
Jane was brought to Kentucky Children’s Hospital after experiencing her first seizure. Doctors found a brain tumor and eight days later she had surgery to have the tumor removed. It was an anaplastic ependymoma, a rare and aggressive Grade III brain cancer.
The Danville youngster now receives ongoing care at the DanceBlue Clinic at Kentucky Children’s Hospital under the care of her oncologist, Dr. Donita Lightner, and pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Randaline Barnett.
The news release from the children’s hospital noted that Jane loves the color purple, playing outside, decorating her and eating Chick-Fil-A — and cheering for the Cats. She enjoys swimming and spending time with her three older brothers.
Remember it was former UK offensive lineman Luke Fortner, an engineering major, who played a major role in helping design the push-cart to help start the program and provide such a memorable experience for the “Lift Them Up Kid” and his or her family.
