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Article published Jul 20, 2008 Girl, 8, 'Army's angel' Hannah Lawson says cancer allowed her to help others
By Mark Boxley of The Daily Times Staff
Stepping off an Army Black Hawk helicopter into the muggy heat that is to be expected on a July day in Tennessee, David Creech walked toward the hanger carrying a brown teddy bear.
It was not exactly Army-issue, but the bear had gone with Creech and the Tennessee National Guard Southern Comfort medevac unit out of Smyrna on more than a few missions while they were stationed overseas. So much so, that one member of Creech's unit commented, "The bear has more flight hours than any of us."
It was to be a very special gift, and Saturday, as Creech walked toward a waiting blond-haired, 8-year-old girl, he was finally able to deliver it.
That girl, Hannah Lawson, of Lenoir City, had been e-mailing and praying for members of the Armed Forces for months. Even after she was diagnosed in February with a malignant brain tumor, she kept praying and e-mailing. After surgery, during radiation treatment, throughout the entire ordeal, she kept right on doing it.
Her list of e-mails and individuals to pray for -- she made a checklist with names so she wouldn't forget anyone -- got so large that she started the "Army Angels" club. People in the Armed Forces were thinking about her, and asking her if there was anything they could do to help as she fought her cancer. But in response, Hannah only asked if there was anything she could do for them.
And help she did. Hannah started collecting items for care packages, and items the soldiers could give out to kids in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo.
The group has grown so large that it is now focusing on helping local groups, with a focus on raising money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Army Angels has started selling T-shirts -- designed by Hannah, and complete with a drawing of a camo-clad angel -- to raise money for the group.Glad for the cancer
It came to the point one day that Hannah had a realization: She told her mother Tracey that she was glad she had cancer.
After the absolute shock of the statement wore off a bit, Tracey Lawson did her best to respond.
"When she told me that, I asked her, 'OK. Why?'"
Without the cancer, there would not have been an "Army Angels" club, Hannah replied. She could not have met so many people -- in the Armed Forces and not -- and she could not have helped the children in distant countries, had it not been for the cancer.
"It was awesome that she could take that kind of experience and turn it into something positive," Tracey Lawson said.
Hannah is only 8 years old, "but she has touched millions of lives all over the world," her aunt, Sue Dauber, said.
One of the soldiers that Hannah met -- Creech, a chief warrant officer -- returned this month with his unit from a 9-month tour in Kosovo. He and several others made a special trip from Smyrna, by Blackhawk, to Tennessee Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility No. 2 in Blount County Saturday to meet the little girl that had inspired them -- and, of course, to give her the bear, named Soco after the Southern Comfort unit.'Little overwhelmed'
Expecting a small group of family members, Creech said he was "a little overwhelmed" by the crowd that showed up in support of Hannah and the soldiers. After hearing of Hannah's story, Creech said his unit "more or less adopted her." Her patriotism and dedication to the troops, and her positive outlook on life in general is amazing, Creech said. "I think if we could all view the world through her smile, it would be a brighter and happier place," he said.
And knowing that a little girl in Tennessee can keep smiling even through a battle with brain cancer, well, that made it so much easier to smile himself, Creech said, even when he was 5,000 miles away from his family.
"I look at her situation," he said. "(And) I don't have any reason to be depressed."
Before the helicopter landed, Hannah said she was looking forward to Creech's arrival.
"It's going to be fun," she said.
And that excitement was apparent when he finally arrived.
Wearing a camouflage National Guard hat and green Southern Comfort flight suit -- compliments of Creech -- Hannah ran onto the tarmac, gave him a hug, accepted the bear, and turned with him to walk back to the waiting crowd.