Caps for Sam - Fourth-grader fights tumor and supports hospital

Sam Ihm of DeKalb models a cap he and his family plan to sell around the area to raise money for Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Sam, who was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor, spent some time at Children's Memorial and was so impressed with the facility, he decided to find a way to raise money to benefit others at the hospital. Chronicle photo HOLLY LUNDH

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DeKALB - Sam Ihm hasn't really had to talk about a surgery to remove a brain tumor. His friends don't ask. They want to know about the ski caps Ihm's family and friends are selling as a fund-raising program for Children's Memorial Hospital. Caps 4 Sam is a project Sam's family is sponsoring to help raise money for brain-tumor research and treatment at the Chicago hospital. Sam, a fourth-grader at St. Mary School in DeKalb, said he learned why he was feeling sick and what doctors at the hospital are going to do to make him better. "They're just going to give me some medicine that makes me drowsy and eventually I'll fall asleep and they'll go through my skull and they're going to try to remove it without anything bad happening," he said. "That's pretty much it," his mom Patty, said with a smile. Later, Patty said she was more nervous about the operation than Sam. "He's a pretty laid-back little guy," Patty said. Doctors have told the family that though they don't know if it is malignant, it should be removed to keep Sam from having further seizures. Sam's dad, Dan, said his son has kept a positive attitude since the inch wide tumor was found earlier this month. "I saw a picture of it," Sam said. "I don't remember how big it was ... it's on the right front part." Patty said Sam hadn't been feeling well for the last couple of months. He'd feel confused and disoriented. On Jan. 2, Sam had a seizure and had to be taken by ambulance to Kishwaukee Community Hospital where doctors found the tumor. Doctors and nurses at Kish were helpful and they knew the best place for him to get help was Children's Memorial Hospital. Sam learned that when he was getting dizzy and disoriented he was having little seizures. Tuesday he will have a more than six-hour surgery to remove the tumor. Sam said he liked the doctors and nurses at Children's Memorial and he wants them to be able to help other kids. That's why when Sam and his mom were talking about him needing a hat to cover up a six-inch scar after the surgery they came up with the idea of selling ski hats. The $10 black ski caps feature a white logo with the words Caps 4 Sam. The number 4 is orange for the DeKalb Barbs and is the number on Sam's basketball jersey. He is a big fan of DeKalb High School basketball. On Wednesday he proudly wore an orange Barbs hooded sweatshirt and his Caps 4 Sam hat. His brothers, Elliott, 13, and Gabriel, 11, helped design the logo. Sam also has a little sister, 5-year old Sadie. Dan Ihm and Sam's grandfather, Don Overbay, have worked to secure sponsors to help pay for the first 200 hats to help raise a minimum of $2,000. Local businesses such as Competitive Edge, RRJ Painting and Wallpapering as well as various friends in the community have helped pay for the caps. Overbay said proceeds from the first 200 hats will go toward research. Dan Ihm also put up a Web site for people to learn more about the project. Sam's site is at Caps4Sam.com. Molly Keating, affiliated organization and events coordinator for Children's Memorial, said the hospital supports the project. She said much of the hospital's funding comes through philanthropy, but much comes from third-party events such as bake sales and other fund-raisers. Keating said it is encouraging to know that children leave Children's Memorial Hospital with such good memories that they want to help raise money for it. "Many times it's young kids (who initiate fund-raising)," she said. "They've had such a great experience in a comforting and loving environment." St. Mary principal Patricia Weis said the school can't get enough caps. "They're wearing them already," she said of the students. "We can't keep them in stock. They're buying them in lots." She said students at the 270 student school are all close and everyone knows each other. At 8 a.m. Tuesday, when Sam is scheduled to have his surgery, an assembly will be held where the student body will offer prayers. Afterward students will make cards and write notes of encouragement for Sam and his family. If they have purchased a Sam hat, they will be allowed to wear it all day. "It's hard for younger children to understand," she said. "They want to know what they can do. This is something they can do to show support" Sam said it is cool to know that so many people want to participate in Caps 4 Sam. He said he looks forward to going back to school and playing sports again. He hasn't been back to school since winter break. After the surgery he will have a home tutor and if everything goes well he could be back in school sometime in February. He said he looks forward to going back to his favorite part of the day. "I miss recess," he said. Aracely Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@ pulitzer.net.