Stanton Haynes and the Car Show Print

Stanton Haynes

Feb 14, 2001-Feb 13, 2005

Kristi RichiePress-Herald Staff

One day shy of his fourth birthday, Stanton Haynes lost his hard-fought battle with neuroblastoma. Just after 2 a.m. Sunday, Stanton left a life of cancer and went home safe in the arms of the Lord.“We were blessed to be his parents for the few years that we did,” Stanton’s mother Tina said. “We know he’s in a better place, and it’s going to be hard for us not to be selfish and hold on to that. He did things his way up until the very end and went very peacefully in the middle of the night.”The Haynes family is now back home in Minden after their extended stay at St. Jude with Stanton. Tina will post arrangements on the Web site, www.caringbridge.org, once they are finalized.“I want to thank the community for the support. Minden is incredible – that’s all we’ve heard the entire time we’ve been there at St. Jude,” Tina said. “I cannot believe what the town has done for St. Jude as well as us personally. The community that we live in is incredible.”Stanton was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma in January 2003 as Stage IV. He had been through six rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, a stem cell transplant, radiation and nine rounds of Accutane until finally classified as “no evidence of disease” until April 15, 2004.The disease returned, and Stanton and his family continued to battle until nearly two weeks ago when they received news that the cancer had spread throughout his entire body.Stanton spent his last days being made as comfortable as possible by the staff of St. Jude’s. When he was feeling well, he was able to play, but then he had his feeling not-so-well moments too.Last Wednesday was special as Stanton got a very special phone call. As he was unable to go on his Make-A-Wish trip, he was asked to wish for anything that might come to him – Dora, Mickey, Spiderman – but his answer was “Michael Waltrips,” the NASCAR driver he bonded with during a trip to North Carolina.“I want him to play race cars, and I will be 15 (Waltrip’s number), and he can be Jeff Gordon,” Stanton told his mother and nurses.Domino’s Pizza, a major advocate of Stanton, got word of Stanton’s wish, and within a couple of hours, Waltrip was on the phone. Waltrip did say only for Stanton would he be Jeff Gordon.Saturday was extremely tough as Stanton began to suffer from multi-organ failure. Then it was only a matter of hours before the little fighter took his last breath.Tina will continue to post on the Web site.“For everybody that I haven’t gotten to thank personally, I want to thank them for their support and their continued support over the next few weeks because this is going to be so difficult. And St. Jude up until the very end and then some was absolutely fabulous,” she said. “All I can say is thank you, and we’ve been very humbled by what Minden has done for us personally as well as for St. Jude.”

The Stanton Haynes Car Show Print

This original art work was painted by Minden artist Chris Broussard to help raise money for the 2nd annual Minden Cruisin’ for a Cure Car Show & Sock-Hop to be held May 14th, 2005. When Schelley Brown; the car show promoter, first mentioned it to Mrs. Broussard she hoped that Chris’s talent and love of children would inspire her to do this special painting. Without any hesitation, in less than one month she had created a beautiful tribute, to the car show, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden and also to Stanton Haynes a former St. Jude patient. Prints from this original painting will go on sale soon and also at the May 14th car show. Without Chris’s help and enormous talent, the amount of money given to St. Jude from the car show would be much less. This print will make a huge difference in the 2005 show as well as the 2006 auction.
Minden gives more money per-capita than any other city in the world. For over thirty years Minden has given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It is the one thing that the people in Minden do best. In 2005, so far Minden has given over half-a-million dollars.
The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden is the perfect backdrop for any event. This plant has been in operation for over 100 years and owned by the Hunter family. This is one of last independently owned Coke facilities in the country. This year the Hunter family celebrates 100 years with the Coca-Cola franchise. This facility houses one of the most incredible coke and sports museums in the area. The history of Minden lies within these walls. Hunter’s have been giving to Minden for over 100 years. Without the graciousness of the Hunter Family this car show would not be possible.
St. Jude has a special place in the heart of Minden, because of the many families from our area that have to make that journey to the Memphis hospital for treatment for their children. One such child is depicted in this print. The small little boy holding the balloons is Stanton Haynes. The 2005 show is in Stanton’s memory. He touched so many lives in his few short years. Stanton Allen Haynes was born on February 14, 2001 to Tina and Jeff Haynes and older brother Hayden. On January 2, 2003, a mass was found in Stanton's abdomen. Neuroblastoma Stage IV was the diagnosis and the five-year survival rate was about 59 percent. During the time of January through September 2003, the Haynes family lived in Memphis while Stanton underwent six rounds of high dose chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tumor, autologous stem cell transplant and 12 rounds of radiation. They went home with Stanton classified as "No Evidence of Disease". On April 15, 2004, the Haynes’s experienced the worst day of their lives. They were told the cancer was back and very aggressive. Stanton participated in a research study and the Haynes family found out first hand what the research that St. Jude's does is all about. Stanton in his short life did incredible things. He brought many together, from all over the world, thru his family’s faith. Stanton loved cars and with his older brother Hayden’s help were chosen to design a NASCAR for Domino’s and Michael Waltrip. This is just one of the ways that this tiny warrior inspired so many. February 13, 2005 one day short of his fourth birthday, Stanton left his pain and made his journey to heaven. His fourth birthday was spent racing his tricycle on streets of gold.
Thank you in advance for you purchase of this print. As Danny Thomas said, “Let no child die before his time.” With your help maybe one day that dream will come true! If you would like to purchase this limited edition “Minden Cruisin For A Cure for St. Jude” print please contact Schelley Brown at iluvoldcars@yahoo.com or 318-371-2913.