By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Cindy Johnson, owner of The Cubby in Caribou recently announced that Landen Owens was the recipient of the shop’s Hero of the Month recognition award for January. Each month Johnson presents a $50 check on behalf of The Cubby to an individual who is struggling with a serious health issue or someone who has gone above and beyond the norm in supporting others in need.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Five-year-old Landen Owens, who is currently undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblast leukemia, was named The Cubby’s Hero of the Month for January, by Cindy Johnson, right, owner of the second-hand shop who presented him with a $50 check. With Landen, are, from left his sister Aunika Beck and his Mom, Naomi Rossignol, all of Limestone.
Five-year-old Landen was diagnosed with acute lymphoblast leukemia, or ALL on Feb. 4, 2010. Since then he and his mother board the bus by 7 a.m., one day each month and travel to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor where he undergoes extensive treatment. “It’s a very long day,” stated Landen’s Mom, Naomi Rossignol. “We travel down on the bus in the morning, spend the day at the hospital, then take the bus back home the same night. There have been a couple of times that because of the poor weather, the bus wasn’t running and we had to spend the night in Bangor,” she added.
Last year, Rossignol and her son participated in the annual Relay for Life event. As a cancer survivor Landen ( who continues on his journey to being cancer free) traveled the laps of the outdoor track in a wagon, pulled by his caregiver Mom.
“Landen is a wicked strong boy,” stated his mother. “He never puts up a fight — there is no fuss when he undergoes his treatments.”
The 15th day after the initial treatment began, Landen’s leukemia went into remission and remains so at this time but he still faces three years of monthly treatments, hopefully the final one coming in May of 2013.
“You have to stay positive,” stressed Rossignol. “Never give up. The medical technology is always improving — you must never stop going forward.”
Johnson commented, “I just felt this pressing need to help this young man — it’s my pleasure to be able to show support to this family.”
