“A Glimmer of Sun”: A True Team Player’s Ongoing Battle With Cancer

Dec. 1 - 

Long before the opening tip-off of the 2008-2009 Carnegie Mellon University men’s basketball season, first-year assistant coach Justin Jennings inspired 10 of his players to join him for a very special tournament.  These young men united with 700 others in efforts to raise money for Justin’s Aunt, Sunny Carney, who is suffering from an extremely rare form of cancer. Sunny was diagnosed with Carcinoid cancer, an endocrine disease which spreads from vital organ to vital organ and in this case her bones as well. Sunny’s tumors have spread throughout her liver, her spine, skull, hips, legs, and shoulder. As a result, she has endured chemotherapy, painful octriatide treatments, and radiation therapy is a realistic probability for the future.  Even more saddening is the fact that these treatments will not cure the disease and only aim to impede the growth of the tumors beyond their current state.  

Sunny’s championed spirit and strong faith in God has helped her overcome the current obstacles in her life and allowed her to successfully beat cancer twice in the past. Her children are living proof of the miracle of her life because after her ordeal with ovarian cancer, doctors strongly doubted her chances of having children. Today, Sunny and her husband Mark are proud parents to three sons: Austen, Logan, and Nolan. Not only has Sunny supported her children by serving as president of their school’s PTA, she has organized drives for those less fortunate, and added a non-profit branch to her photography business to showcase and benefit local families that are experiencing similar battles with cancer. Sunny’s photographs are a moving tribute to her life and of her ability to touch the lives of others during an unimaginable physically and emotionally trying time.

Unfortunately, times will not get easier for Sunny or her family in the near future. Immediately following the dawn of the new year and the culmination of the holiday season, when cheer and new resolutions are on the minds of so many, Sunny’s cheerleaders, family and friends will be forced to say goodbye to her and her husband Mark as they will travel to Basel, Switzerland for an experimental treatment that is not funded by their insurance. Since both the voyage and the medical costs are extremely expensive, the event held at Boyce Silver Park in late September and the “Miles of Smiles for Sunny,” a Run/Walk held on November 15th, were just a few ways the family is raising attention and funds necessary to afford the trip to Holland.

The event held at Boyce Silver Park, which members of the Carnegie Mellon men’s basketball team attended, was both a memorable and successful feat.  “I cannot express in words the gratitude I have for our players,” commented Coach Jennings.  “It really meant a lot to my family that they attended the event.  They were a huge hit and I continue to receive compliments from people about how much they enjoyed the team being there.”

The focus of the day was the wiffleball tournament, where five member teams in both youth and adult divisions competed to raise money for the Sunny Carney Carcinoid Cancer Fund. Family and friends also participated in face-painting activities, relished in each others company, music and games, and enjoyed food graciously donated by Shop-N-Save.

When senior forward Terrance Bouldin-Johnson, seen that day sporting Panda-like face paint, was asked why he decided to attend this event, he had this to say: “After reading about what she [Sunny] had been through and will still have to go through, I decided that the least I could do is participate in a wiffleball tournament. As soon as we arrived we were greeted with open arms as if we were members of JJ’s [Justin Jennings] family.” Terrance also said he will take away the memory of the time to get to know JJ and being able to bond with his teammates at an event away from the gym so early in the year.

“It was clear by the end of the event, if it hadn't been before, that JJ cares for every single one of us like a member of his own family. I would gladly do a handful of events like this if it showed even a portion of my gratitude for the progress Coach Jennings has brought my team and the basketball program as a whole,” added Bouldin-Johnson.

Thanks to Terrance, his teammates, and the hundreds of other supporters, the wiffleball tournament pushed the Carney Fund over the halfway mark to its goal to afford the trip to Holland.

“It goes a long way in showing what type of student-athletes we have in this program; strong and caring young men who are always willing to support a great cause,” added Jennings.  “The guys have accepted my family and me into the Carnegie Mellon basketball family and for that I will be forever grateful.”  

By the look on Justin’s face when talking with him, you can tell that Sunny has touched many lives with her compassionate spirit and boundless love. Please visit the Sunny Carney Carcinoid Cancer website to learn more, view photos, blog and leave your blessings and encouragements as well as show your support to the family and friends during this difficult time. Thank you to assistant coach Justin Jennings for sharing this story; it has truly touched many hearts.