Sammy's Playground
This is the story of the brief life of Samuel Reed Pardue, and an explanation of why we wanted to be a part of building this playground at Calvary. Sam was born on May 27, 1998, and died on May 7, 2003.
He was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, an inoperable tumor in his sinus cavity located between and behind the eyes. This was one year prior to his death. Sammy, the son of Brooke Perry Pardue and her husband, Thomas Reed Pardue, and the grandson of Anita Richards (Mrs. John), went through one year of radiation and chemotherapy like a real hero. The tumor had disappeared when he went into Children’s Hospital for his final chemo treatment. We were sure he was winning his fight with childhood cancer. He then started having unusual side effects. It was discovered that the cancer had metastasized to his brain and spinal column. He was gone three weeks later.
The lasting happy memory we have is of his cheerful personality. The hospice nurse said we were to tell Sam it was all right to go. He said sometimes children feel they need their family’s permission to die. So when Brooke told him, “Sammy, the angels will come to play with you and it is all right to go with them. You will be happier than you have ever been.” His reply was, “That’s OK, Mommy, I’m happy now. And he was so very sick. A happy, precious child, and we want him to be remembered in a happy place, where children play, and an angel looks down on them now and then.
When Fr. Ned told us of his wish for a playground, that just seemed to fit. Many thanks to the Calvary parents and the Landscape Committee and all others who are helping to make Sammy’s Playground possible.
Anita Richards