Teen ‘Hero’ continues to help others beat cancer

Kaliko Adams was 8 years old when his mother, Tricia, was diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer and told by doctors she had only a few months to live. His younger sister, Kawena, was 5. The entire family rallied around Tricia Adams to help get her through cancer treatments in 2006.

“The kids would massage my feet and rub my hair,” said Tricia Adams, a 37-year-old Wahiawa resident and vice principal at Mokapu Elementary School.

“Kaliko would cuddle with me and help my mother-in-law make soup. Everyone was so supportive. My parents even flew in from Guam.”

With the support of her family, her Mormon faith and the services provided by the American Cancer Society, Tricia Adams beat the odds, and two years later walked with Kaliko in the Survivors Lap at a Relay For Life event.

Relay For Life is a fundraising event that honors survivors and those lost to the disease, while raising money for American Cancer Society programs and research. Team members take turns walking around a track or designated course for up to 24 hours. Teams must have a member on the track at all times to represent the idea that “cancer never sleeps.”

This year there are six Relay For Life events on Oahu, plus others planned for the neighbor islands. Last year, more than 3,500 people participated in the Oahu relays, raising $340,708, according to the Cancer Society.

Tricia Adams’ cancer has been in remission for almost 10 years, but her family remains heavily involved in promoting cancer awareness and research for a cure. In 2012 she was named a Hero of Hope by the American Cancer Society, and now the honor has passed to Kaliko Adams, who was named a 2017 Hero.

The title goes to cancer survivors or caregivers who have demonstrated a commitment to the organization’s mission. They share their personal stories to motivate others, attend relays and offer encouragement.

“It was an eye-opening experience for me,” Tricia Adams said of her illness.

“We want to spread a message of hope and love. …They have grown up with a passion to fight and have gained leadership abilities.”

Kaliko Adams, now 18 and a student at Kapiolani Community College, has participated in more than 20 relay events. By age 13, he was serving as a Relay For Life team captain and recruiting classmates to join him. Tricia’s husband, Owen, and Kawena have participated in about 15 relays over the years.

One of the most moving moments at the events is the luminaria ceremony in which paper bags containing lights are marked with the names of individuals who have fought or are fighting cancer. Each light represents a life.

“Every time I see the luminaria ceremony, I can’t help but cry,” Kaliko Adams said.

He remembers what it was like watching his mother struggle to overcome the disease, and even though he wasn’t fully aware of what she was going through, he said the cancer survivors he met during that the time provided him with hope. Adams said he doesn’t want others in the same situation to feel powerless.

“Some people don’t have access to someone that they can talk to,” he said.

He continues to share his family’s story and raise funds to help improve the lives of cancer patients in the community.

“I may not be a researcher or doctor, but I’m willing to do all that I can to give back and help make a difference,” said Adams, who plans to apply for the emergency medical technician program at KCC.

“People need to know that there are treatments, there are survivors and there is hope. My mom was told that she wouldn’t make it. We want to see more miracles happen.”

American Cancer Society Relay For Life events will be held April 8 at University of Hawaii at Manoa; April 15 at Kapolei High School; May 27 at Mililani High School; July 8 in Windward Oahu; July 22 at Magic Island, Ala Moana Beach Park; and Aug. 19 at Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama campus. For more information, visit relayforlife.org or call 800-227-2345.