'So happy all of the time'

Tommy Spradley is very much like any 4-year-old boy.

He is silly and energetic, excited by new discoveries.

“He genuinely is so happy all of the time,” said his mom, Natalie Spradley. “He can find the happiness in anything.”

Even cancer.

For young Tommy, Sacred Heart Medical Center has practically become a second home, which he finds has perks.

“He absolutely loves the nurses,” his mom said, laughing. 

Such is his joy and positive outlook that most have no clue what he has endured and the challenges he still faces.

“I look at him, you’d never guess what's going on,” Natalie Spradley said.

A lot. 

Tommy Spradley has been fighting cancer since he was 2 years old.  He currently undergoes chemotherapy once every four weeks for five days.

“It’s really tough on him,” Natalie Spradley said. “Each treatment seems to make him more sick.”

Sunday is a chance to help him keep his spirits up.

The 37th annual Shalena's Breakfast with Santa will be from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hauser Lake Fire Station, 10728 E. Hauser Lake Road.

The event is in honor of  Shalena Mobbs, who was 2 when she died of cancer. Proceeds support other local families with a young one battling illness.

Hauser Lake Fire volunteers will serve eggs, sausage, pancakes, biscuits and gravy and more for $3 per person or $15 per family.

Tommy Spradley was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis in 2021 when he was 2. 

It was discovered by accident when he fell of a couch and his parent thought he hurt his foot. He ended up at Sacred Heart when a tumor was found in his right leg.

It was removed and he seemed to recover well.

“We thought we were in the clear,” his mom said.

But in June his parents noticed he couldn’t get enough water. A trip to his oncologist led to an MRI and it was discovered that his pituitary gland had a growth inside it: Cancer had returned.

He undergoes chemotherapy once every four weeks for five days.

“It’s really tough on him,” Natalie Spradley said. “Each treatment seems to make him more sick.”

Doctors are determining if his current treatment with chemotherapy is working or another approach is needed. Radiation has not been necessary.

Tommy takes medications twice a day and likely will have to for the rest of his life, his mom said.

She hopes Tommy will be well enough to attend Shalena's Breakfast, which she said is a wonderful gift for him and his family.

“I cannot express how amazing it is,” Natalie Spradley said. "The world is such a scary place right now. Such a simple gesture, it’s just so beautiful.”

Tickets for Shalena’s Breakfast will be available at the door.

    Tommy Spradley poses for a picture. The Hayden boy will be the beneficiary of Shalena's Breakfast on Sunday.