Tess Beach
Community Hero 2005
At nearly 11 years old, Tess is a cheerful, energetic young girl who dreams of becoming a professional athlete. She has a special talent for soccer and basketball, loves the University of Oregon Ducks and has no shortage of favorite friends, a list that includes “everyone!” she says. With two cats and three hamsters, Tess has plenty of of furry friends, too. She enjoys reading, traveling, swimming, snorkeling—and listening to all types of music. Given her good-humored, active nature, it’s easy to see why Tess names school recess and playtime with friends as her favorite activities.
When Tess was nine, she was diagnosed with a form of childhood kidney cancer, or Wilms Tumor. A battery of painful treatments and procedures—from CT scans and lung surgery to chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant—soon followed.
But none of this could mute her courage or her determination to win the battle. When asked what advice she would give to others in a situation like hers, she says, “Relax, try not to think about it and try to enjoy yourself even though you’re feeling bad. Find ways to have fun.” Her mother, Jennifer, says she is so proud of how bravely her daughter has dealt with so many serious challenges. “Conquering something and feeling great about it” is Tess’s definition of a hero. Her family knows of no other person who puts this definition into action better than Tess herself.
