In Spirit Lake, a young 'warrior' fights cancer

HAUSER — For Gary Mobbs, Shalena’s Breakfast with Santa is personal.

Since 1985, volunteer firefighters have held the breakfast to sponsor children in North Idaho battling cancer in the name of Mobbs’ daughter, Shalena, who lost her years-long battle with neuroblastoma almost 40 years ago.

“It’s bittersweet, but it’s a big honor for me for her name to live on this way,” said Mobbs, captain of the Hauser Lake Fire District. “It’s really great raising money for these families because I know what they’ve been through. It’s brutal to see your child go through that.”

This year's proceeds will go to the family of Lane Trulson, a 6-year-old boy from the Spirit Lake area who was diagnosed with leukemia. 

"Lane has always been a brave adventurer," said Lindsay Trulson, Lane's mom. "He is an amazing son and brother, he loves Jesus, he is funny and kind."

Lane is the third of five brothers. His mom said he is compassionate, thinks about others over himself and loves animals.

"We’ve always called him our warrior, as he’s never been intimidated to jump into anything and go," she said.

But that took on a whole new meaning when he was diagnosed with leukemia in the summer.

"When we found out that Lane had leukemia, it felt like our world stopped, but it couldn’t at the same time, we still had four other kids to take care of. There's a hard balance between caring for him, and his brothers, and making life happen," Trulson said.

She said her family was "blown away" by being chosen as this year's Breakfast with Santa recipient. 

"To have our financial burden lifted by this breakfast gives us some breathing room to focus on Lane and his brothers' needs without the extra stressor of finances," she said. "It gives us the gift of time with Lane, and our boys, and when you’ve stared a potentially terminal diagnosis in the face, there’s nothing more you can ask for."

Despite the medical hardship facing Lane, his spark has not diminished. 

"He likes to use IV poles as scooters, saline flushes as squirt guns and tell the nurses what a hungry goat sounds like — don’t ask, its loud." Trulson said.

The support Shalena's Breakfast provides is made possible by community effort. 

What began as a two-grill operation four decades ago is now a 70-volunteer, committee-ran event requiring 12 grills to ensure there’s enough food for everyone.

“Every year it kept progressing, and it’s gotten bigger and bigger,” Mobbs said.

Even as groceries have gotten pricier, the suggested donation remains $3 a person, but most give more.

“There’s a lot of people who don’t have a lot of money, and we want to keep our price low for those who can’t afford much,” Mobbs told The Press. “If they can’t afford it, they have breakfast anyway. They eat for free.”

Breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Hauser Lake Fire Station. 

    Gary Mobbs' late daughter, Shalena, whose name lives on through Shalena's Breakfast with Santa yearly fundraiser.