- November 23, 2024
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Amber and Anthony Wagner found out on Jan. 13 that their 6-year-old daughter, Harper, has a rare form of childhood cancer.
The next night, Anthony, the girls basketball coach at Flagler Palm Coast, had his biggest game of the year against Matanzas.
Of course, he wasn’t going to the game.
But Harper wanted to go.
“She likes going,” Anthony said. “She asked if she could go to my game.”
So, Anthony coached his team, and Harper watched from the stands.
“Everybody understood. The team’s a family,” he said. “They’re kind of like more big sisters to our girls.”
Amber and Anthony have four daughters: Haley, 19, Harper, 6, Holland 4, and Hudson, 2.
On Jan. 13, Anthony took Harper to the emergency room at AdventHealth Palm Coast because she had an unusual swelling on the right side of her face.
First, he was told it could be an infection. Then, after a CT scan, the doctor said she thought Harper had embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.
“I was kind of dumbfounded,” Anthony said. “I had no idea. That's when she said it’s a type of cancer. So, at that point everything kind of changed.”
The diagnosis was confirmed at Nemours Children’s Health in Jacksonville.
At that point, their lives did change. Harper is their focus, while Amber and Anthony continue to give their other girls the attention they too deserve. And the Wagners discovered they’re not alone in their ordeal.
Support from the community and from other families that have gone through their trauma has been overwhelming, they said.
“It’s amazing how many people have reached out to us. ... Parents in Palm Coast and Flagler County who have kids going through treatment have reached out. We had no idea that there was even that type of support in the community.”
ANTHONY WAGNER
“It’s amazing how many people have reached out to us,” said Anthony. “Everybody offers to help. We’re involved with a couple of churches in town — Palm Coast Community Church on Sundays and First Baptist on Wednesdays. They’ve offered meals. They’ve even offered to help get our two younger ones into the preschool.
“Other parents in Palm Coast and Flagler County who have kids going through treatment have reached out. We had no idea that there was even that type of support in the community.”
Amber’s job at Grand Villa Palm Coast Senior Living Community was put on hold while Anthony continues to teach at Buddy Taylor Middle School.
Harper is on a 66-week treatment plan. She goes to Jacksonville once a week for chemotherapy. Every fourth week, she has to go five days in a row. Every sixth week, she has an overnight stay in the hospital. On week 12, she’ll begin radiation therapy five days a week in Jacksonville.
Willis Earl started a GoFundMe page to help the Wagners with their travel and medical expenses. As of Feb. 21, 120 donors had contributed a total of $14,668.
John Schneck, the Wagners’ former pastor, had wristbands made up that say, “Praying for Harper Quinn” and “Philippians 4:6-7”
Schneck, the pastor at Life Community Church in Eustis who has started his 50th year in ministry, said the first order for the wristbands was 400 to 500 from toddler size to extra large with another order going in.
“We love the Wagners,” he said. “I was their pastor here, but we still consider them part of our family. We ask our people to wear (the wristbands), and every time they look at them, they think of Harper. It brings up the question of what we believe. We certainly believe in the power of prayer.”
We ask our people to wear (the wristbands) and every time they look at them, they think of Harper. It brings up the question of what we believe. We certainly believe in the power of prayer.”
JOHN SCHNECK, pastor of Life Community Church, Eustis
Debbie Gibbens has been collecting gift cards for the family. The Live Like Cameron Foundation has reached out.
The Wagners have a Facebook page called “Harper’s Journey,” where they keep group members informed on Harper's treatment. And they are supporting other families.
Anthony discovered that the sister of Esperanza “Essie” Bass is one of his students. Essie, who has chronic myeloid leukemia, is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. With their new platform, the Wagners are trying to spread the word to help Essie find a donor.
Harper is on an individual educational plan and is on partial hospital homebound with a teacher coming in a couple of days a week. Harper loves cheerleading, gymnastics and swimming, and the doctors told Amber and Anthony she can continue those activities if she feels up to it. Art — drawing and coloring — is her comfort, Anthony said.
“It’s all been a whirlwind,” he said. “We’re fortunate. Everyone has been amazing. It’s making it so we can focus on Harper.”
