Teen battling cancer creates coloring comic book

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - William Norfleet III, aka JR, is a tough kid. He's a wise kid. He's an inspiring kid.

"The way he lives every day, every minute of his life, is something everybody could learn from," Dr. Dennis O'Brien said.

O'Brien is a pediatric oncologist at Lutheran's Children's Hospital and has walked alongside JR in his battle with cancer.

In 2008, JR was diagnosed with a lung tumor that's rarely found in children. He was only 13 years old.

"I remember the day my grandma told me I had cancer," JR said. "I thought maybe I had to have surgery or something, but cancer was the last thing on my mind. When she told me we just sat there and cried."

JR went through three bouts of chemotherapy, but nothing was stopping the tumor from growing. Then in spring 2011, JR was diagnosed with heart failure.

"Because his heart was having to pump so hard against the tumor in his lungs," Dr. O'Brien said. "He's touched so many lives it's really hard when there's nothing left medically to do for him."

Doctors gave him a few months to live, but JR had other plans. His faith in God and a strong support system of family and friends from Camp Whatca Wanna Do , a camp for kids fighting cancer, keeps him going. That and his creative outlet.

JR pours his struggle with cancer into poems. Drawing helped the long hours of boring, painful chemotherapy melt away.

"That was my therapy. Some kids like video games or movies, but my thing was drawing. I love it. Every time I draw I space out and I'm in my own little world and don't feel the pain," he said.

It was during his chemo treatments that JR created Captain Chemo, a cancer-fighting superhero who sets out to find the cure for cancer. Dr. O'Brien, who always enjoyed seeing JR's sketches, was shocked to find out he was Captain Chemo.

"I was honored," he said. "It was surprising and I was very touched, especially coming from JR who's just an incredible kid. It really is quite an honor. I'll put that on my wall. Of any awards or things, I'll put that up first."

Friends got a few copies published and JR decided to have the book in black and white so other kids with cancer can color it in while they get chemotherapy.

"We'd love to distribute it to kids in our clinic and maybe if we can get more people interested in this, expand it nationally. That would be incredible and leave JR with a lasting legacy too," Dr. O'Brien said.

JR said staying positive wasn't always easy, but his faith and belief that there's a reason he has cancer, keeps him positive. Now he hopes others will hear his message.

"Never give up on yourself. Stay positive. Through all the bad stuff that I've been through, I'm still positive. Never give up and keep the faith," he said. "Never let somebody tell you you can't do something. The only person who can put limits on you is God."

Watch the videos in this story to hear JR read some of his poems. He's working to get them published now.

Jim Casaburo met JR at camp and even created a Captain Chemo costume to surprise him. JR calls Casaburo his best friend.

"We do everything together. He's silly and that's his thing, dressing up wild and crazy and putting a smile on my face," JR said.

Casaburo said a goal is to have the coloring comic book distributed with a small pack of crayons. Details for getting it printed and funded are still trying to be worked out. Anyone who would like to help can contact Casaburo at jcasaburo@casarestaurants.net.