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Do IT this week: Layering
Ailing parents show support at his games
By David Lee Morgan Jr.
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
Fascinating, dynamic, upbeat.
Words that could describe Jonathan Lampley, a National Merit Scholarship finalist who is class vice president at Tallmadge High School. He has a 4.2 grade-point average, plays on the basketball team, and participates in the marching (tuba) and concert (trumpet) bands and the drama club.
Committed, determined, focused.
Next year, Lampley will attend Ohio State and plans to be a doctor.
Almost as important as Lampley's goal of graduating with a medical degree is his goal to become a member of Ohio State's marching band — ''The Best Damn Band in the Land.''
''When I was 7 years old, I was with my parents at an Ohio State game and that was the first time I started loving Ohio State,'' he said. ''I loved the football team and the band. But my goal is to 'dot the i' when I'm at Ohio State.''
That means being a senior sousaphone player and having the privilege of high-stepping his way out from the Script Ohio to become the individual who makes a crowd of 100,000-plus at Ohio Stadium go crazy.
Lampley eagerly awaited this school year, expecting to enjoy the time of his life as a senior in high school.
''I was very excited about my senior year because everyone talks about how fast it goes,'' he said. ''So I want to make the best of every day and enjoy being around my friends, my classmates and my teammates. I'll never have this time back again, so I want to make the very best of it.''
Supportive, considerate, caring.
Then, early this school year, came news regarding his mother, Rebekah: a diagnosis of breast cancer.
''We had open house at the school and I had a doctor's appointment that day,'' Rebekah Lampley said. ''I went back to school and informed some people that I had breast cancer, and it has been a journey from the first day of September until now.
''I have chemotherapy on Fridays, then I go to Jonathan's games,'' she said. ''Jonathan would always
come over to me after games and would be so supportive and considerate and would ask how I was doing. This journey has not been easy for any of us, but Jonathan has been awesome.''
Rebekah said her illness has helped the family understand the importance of life.
''Since I've been sick, I haven't been on them to pick up their socks because it hasn't mattered for the last four months,'' she said, jokingly, speaking as a mother who likes to keep her house clean when others in her house, namely her husband and son, don't.
''Everybody is taking a break because we now realize that the little stuff in life really doesn't matter,'' she said. ''All the little stuff we worry about every day in our lives really doesn't matter.''
Rebekah Lampley said she has her ''good days and bad days'' with chemotherapy treatment. She said she makes it through with the support of her family and friends, especially those at First Apostolic Faith Church.
Her son looks at her as his hero.
''I think it's amazing how positive she stays throughout her whole ordeal,'' Jonathan said. ''She has her treatments on Fridays but she's still at every one of my games, and that means a lot.''
Another health concern
Jonathan Lampley's father, also named Jonathan, is awaiting a kidney transplant and undergoes dialysis three days a week.
''I have chronic kidney failure and I'm in the process of waiting for a kidney transplant,'' he said. ''It has been challenging, sometimes, to go to games because I go to dialysis Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I don't have much strength sometimes after dialysis, and most of Jonathan's games are on Fridays.
''But when I see the spirit Jonathan has and the way he works with his mom and I, with the health problems we have, it's just so amazing. He doesn't let our problems affect him. It's uplifting for my wife and I, because all of the hard work that we've done with him and all of the hard work he's done has come to fruition.
''He's a very good kid, and even if he wasn't my son, to see how much of a leader he is is something I admire. When you see any young kid with his head in the right direction, it's inspiring.''
The younger Lampley added: ''My mom and dad have supported me in everything I've ever done . . . What's really helped me be successful is knowing that no matter what I do, I'll always have their support.''
On the basketball court, Lampley is a hard worker and leader for coach Jon Karnuth. The Blue Devils (14-6) will face Suburban League rival Revere in the Division II sectional tournament Saturday afternoon at Stow.
During the regular season, Lampley averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He finished the regular season with 50 points and 29 rebounds in the final three games.
''Jonathan brings this competitive spirit and I haven't had anyone like that other than Alan Bock,'' Karnuth said, referring to an outstanding 2002 Tallmadge graduate. ''Jonathan is going to give you 100 percent at all times.
''But the great thing about him is he's well-respected. He's probably the most well-rounded kid I've ever been around. He's the lead in the school play, he plays different instruments, he's outstanding in the classroom, and the most amazing thing is how humble he is. He's so reserved about his abilities.''
Rebekah Lampley said that might be her son's one fault.
''Jonathan entered this poetry contest in school one time where he recited poetry,'' she said. ''He ended up winning second prize and he never even told me. He didn't even invite me.
''I asked him, 'Jonathan, why didn't you invite me?' He said he didn't think it was a big deal. And that's Jonathan. He doesn't think any of his accomplishments are a big deal, but we do. To us, he's a gift from God. I call him 'the Midas-touch boy' because everything he touches turns to gold.''
Tallmadge Principal Rebecca DeCapua summed it up simply: ''Jonathan is just a phenomenal young man.''
David Lee Morgan Jr. can be reachedat dlmorgan@thebeaconjournal.com.
Fascinating, dynamic, upbeat.
Get the full article here.
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