[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18410-18411]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   JONNY WADE'S FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
my friend, Jonny Wade, an 8-year-old from Jerseyville, Illinois, who is 
battling a rare form of brain and spinal cancer.
  After being diagnosed with cancer on Christmas Day of 2014, Jonny has 
undergone several surgeries as well as multiple rounds of radiation and 
chemotherapy. Despite the diagnosis, Jonny continues to think of 
others, and his rallying cry remains, ``I don't want any other kid to 
have cancer.''
  While he was unable to travel to Washington, as I invited him to do 
just a few short months ago, to come here to advocate for cancer 
research, I want to take this time, Mr. Speaker, to speak out on his 
behalf.
  Cancer is the second leading cause of death for children, yet only 4 
percent of cancer research funds go to children. Jonny and his twin 
brother Jacky have a special place in my heart because I am the parent 
of twin boys, too. While Jonny and Jacky may not be here with me today, 
they brought their cause to the Capitol.
  Pediatric cancer is a relentless disease, and we cannot waver in our 
efforts to eradicate it. For Jonny and the thousands of children who 
are diagnosed with cancer each year, we must all work together to fully 
fund pediatric cancer research.
  The favorite sport of Jonny and Jacky is baseball. These two guys 
right here like to go to baseball games and football games. 
Unfortunately for both of them, they are St. Louis Cardinals fans. 
Being an Atlanta Braves fan, I like to joke with them about their 
choice in teams.
  But I have got a baseball right here, Mr. Speaker, and I want to 
thank all

[[Page 18411]]

the colleagues who signed this baseball for me. I wanted everybody to 
sign, but as you can see, there is no room left.
  This baseball is for you, Jonny. I want to thank you for being the 
fighter that you are.

                          ____________________