Just eight months ago, Bryton Belinger's biggest worry might have been whether he had enough movement on his off-speed pitches heading into his senior season of Montague baseball. Now, Belinger is facing the fight of his life - but he's not doing it alone.
Belinger was recently diagnosed with spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma, a very rare and aggressive form of cancer - so rare, says mom Christina, that surgeons hadn't even heard of it prior to his diagnosis. Bryton discovered a mass Sept. 17, which quickly led to an ultrasound and the diagnosis.
He's undergone two surgeries to combat the disease, including last week's removal of all the lymph nodes on his right side, which doctors say will increase Bryton's chances that the cancer will not recur. Christina said Belinger's chances the cancer will stay away will be very good - "85 percent" - following the surgery.
The family has rallied around Bryton - older sister Bailey came in from out of town to support her brother - and so has the White Lake community. There will be a fundraising event for Bryton at the White Lake Eagles Sunday, Nov. 30 from 2-5 p.m., which will include a taco bar, a silent auction and raffles, as well as free will donations. The family is also the recipient of a GoFundMe launched by family friend Ashley Blanchard, which was created barely a month ago and has already raised over $31,000. The money helps the Belinger family cover medical bills, travel costs and hotel stays related to Bryton's appointments.
The Belingers were also the recipient of the Montague FFA's annual cider sale at the Oct. 24 football game against Ravenna. The cider sale, which is sponsored by donations from Sandy Rollenhagen, was earmarked as a fundraiser for the Belingers this year, and shattered the organization's $500 goal, raising $775 for Bryton.
Bryton was selected as the recipient in large part due to his work with the FFA as a student. Advisor Kate Feuerstein said Belinger's commitment to FFA was obvious often in his Montague days, but no more so than when he "came at the drop of a hat" to help clean up when there was a flood in the group's chicken barn.
"Bryton immediately came, and advisers came, and we spent a couple hours shoveling wet sawdust full of chicken manure, and we had wet cold birds," Feuerstein said. "This is the least that we can do for them, given the situation they're in."
In addition to all this, Fight Like a Belinger t-shirts are now being sold online to help the family and spread support. (For more information, search Fight Like a Belinger on Facebook.)
Belinger is back at home now, and once he recovers from his surgery, he will begin a chemotherapy regimen. He said his surgery recovery timetable involves four weeks of no strenuous activity and eight weeks no lifting heavy objects. Once he begins treatment, he will undergo 10 treatments every three weeks for seven months.
The family has been heartened by the amount of support, financial and otherwise, that they've received amid Bryton's fight.
"We did a prayer circle before his first surgery at our house," Christina said. "Evengelical Covenant Church youth pastor) Craig Smith came and prayed with us. Chris Stark (of "Get Busy Living" fame) and Steve Darke approached us and they're running the (Eagles) fundraiser."
"We can't believe the amount of people," added Bryton's dad Brandon, who have reached out to help.
Bryton's future plans have had to be put on hold while he deals with his cancer, but he's not shelving them by any means. He has been working on launching a lawn care business, and his mom Christina said he was set to soon begin an apprenticeship at Meyer Well Drilling in Montague. He's aiming to begin that next fall.
In the meantime, Belinger has plenty to look forward to. Prior to his surgery, he went on a four-day hunting trip in Iowa to keep his spirits up, and he's planned a snowmobiling trip with his dad to Wyoming next February, an engagement he intends to keep.
There's likely no end in the near future to the support the area will provide to the Belingers. Feuerstein said she never ceases to be amazed by what the community will do to help one of their own when in need.
"I've had people message us on social media that they don't even know who the Belingers are, but they want to help," Feuerstein said. "'Can we just donate money instead of buy cider? Can we do this? Where can I get that?' I think that's a testament to the entire White Lake area. Regardless of who it is, people are going to pitch in."
"We're messaged every day," Christina said. "We get cards and people drop stuff off. It's been an amazing amount of support, for sure. It makes the hard days a little easier."
