Pray for Morgan #prayformorgan
Channel: Josh Ward
Date: 17/03/2014

#PrayforMorgan


Its Friday night of the 2014 Universal Cheer Association All Star International Competition and Disney's All Star Sports resort is alive with the sounds of excited cheerleaders getting in one last practice for the coming days events. The sound of cadence counts, cheers, and applause permeates the resort. Standing on the bleachers behind the end zone looking down the football field you can see girls flying through the air and a rainbow of colors as each team works together. 

Sitting in the middle of all this organized chaos in navy and neon green is Cheerville Athletics from Hendersonville, TN.    Coach BJ Lindenburger and Coach Katie Lindsey were excitedly organizing their teams, "Ok, you guys are up! Lets practice these too"(as BJ points to his face and makes a big smile.) 

Also, standing in the crowd is Michelle Rogers, a proud mother of four.  Two of her daughters, Kira 9 and Morgan 5, are on the Shredders.  The Shredders are a Level 2 Jr team in the Cheerville Athletics program.  Just by taking in the scene, very few knew that this trip almost didn't happen just a few days before.  

After a fever around Christmas time Morgan had started crossing her eyes.  Michelle assumed it was time to take her to the eye doctor.  "The crossing of the eyes wasn't even that noticeable, but I'm with her everyday and was picking up on something and I thought she would need glasses to correct it, but we ended up here." The eye doctor couldn't find anything wrong, so they sent Morgan in for an MRI on Monday. The MRI showed a brain tumor that would require surgery.  When Michelle and Morgan were at the Oncologist on Wednesday, Morgan saw the scans herself and put it all together.  

"On Monday when we left the hospital after finding out the results I called Katie and told her we're not going to Disney.  They think that we are going to be admitted for surgery this week."  Michelle's husband and 4 children were reeling with the news of Morgan's health. Michelle thought, "What do we do? These type of things don't happen to us." 

The news of Morgan had spread throughout the gym. "It was very selfish of us to keep it to ourselves any longer because look what she's missing out on by way of prayer and support."  Michelle then posted the news to her personal Facebook page and also sent a few emails.  "By Wednesday morning I had to turn my phone off because it sounded like wind chimes with all the notifications." The entire gym had started sharing Morgan's story on their social media pages.  Michelle changed her Facebook profile picture to one of Morgan flying in a competition. That picture and the #prayforMorgan was trending on Twitter and Instagram by Wednesday night. 

"Its hard to talk about." Coach BJ fights back some tears as he talked about how himself, all of his staff, and kids in his gym were putting her story out to people on their social media pages.  "It didn't take very long for the rest of the cheer community to start responding, and kind of rally around like they always do. "  Just through social media and word of mouth, Morgan's story has been heard coast to coast and everywhere in between.  From North Carolina to California to Oklahoma Coaches that have gone through similar situations sent messages of support and prayer to the family and gym.  

The family was all set to cancel their plans to compete and travel to Disney but the Neurosurgeon suggested that she continue with her normal activities until Monday when the surgery is to take place.  Michelle informed her doctor that her normal activity is competing on a cheerleading team and that they had plans to compete at Disney for the weekend.  The doctor gave them the go ahead and encouraged the trip. When Morgan heard the news she was all smiles. 

Through all the support, Morgan has been flooded with attention and gifts.  Michelle joked, "Everyone wants to do nice things for her and wants to make her feel better, and of course she gets very spoiled." To which coach BJ replied, "As she should."

Please keep this gym and family in your thoughts and prayers by trending  #PrayforMorgan



For more information on how you can support Morgan you can contact Cheerville Athletics.  http://www.cheervilleathletics.com