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INSTANT INSPIRATION: VETERAN OF 68 SURGERIES AT 11 YEARS OLD
By Neil H. Devlin
Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_103755 83
Sept 4 2008
CO
LAKEWOOD -- When Green Mountain High School's football team danced
and chanted its way off the field after its season-opening win over
Durango, the Rams were in step, in tune and didn't botch a line.
There were no dress rehearsals or pesky directors, just a command
performance by a group of inspired players who turned it into a moment
that will be replayed in their minds forever.
"This one was for you, Arsen," the team yelled to Arsen Lazarian, an
11-year-old Denverite who, on a good day, is probably not more than
70 pounds soaking wet yet is the toughest hombre the Green Mountain
teenagers know.
For one night at Jefferson County Stadium, Arsen, whose desire is to
become a high school quarterback, lived at least part of a dream.
He was a game-day guest of the Rams last Friday. He traveled with
the team to the stadium, addressed the team during the pregame and
halftime, took part in warm-ups, roamed the sideline and high-fived
the players. He served as an honorary team captain and sported a Green
Mountain sweat shirt with his name on the back, along with the number
68, which matches the count of throat surgeries he has endured the
past seven years.
The native of Yerevan, Armenia, is on a seven-year, three-country
odyssey in search of a cure for recurring throat tumors (laryngeal
papillomatosis). He has the raspy voice of a miner and has been
separated from his father for more than half of his life, and his
condition scares his mother half to death on a daily basis.
But his presence among a giving high school football team meant more
than a state championship.
"It was beyond special," Rams assistant coach Bill Parker said. "It's
amazing how a grown man can admire kids. You'd think it would be the
other way around."
Arsen may be a struggling 11-year old, but acts like "30," according
to his mother, Elmira Poghosyan, and is a pure ham for attention. The
sixth-grader at Whittier Elementary taught himself English with the
help of television cartoons.
As for Arsen's best memory of Friday night? Getting carried off the
field? Hanging out in the locker room?
"I liked going out before the game on to the field to meet the other
team," he said of the coin toss.
Arsen has lived at the Ronald McDonald House in east Denver since
he was 4 and is believed to be the longest-tenured resident in any
of the 270 houses worldwide. The houses are near hospitals and were
built for sick children and their families.
Over the past couple of years, the Rams have been going to the house
once a month in the offseason to bring food and help cook, spend
time with the kids and try to be a positive influence. The team was
unanimous in taking it up a step in 2008.
"I don't think you can understand what these kids go through unless
you've been through it," said Rams head coach Bob Hudson, a longtime
state figure who lost his first wife more than a decade ago during
the birth of their son. "We decided to get Arsen and his family to
a game, and it was pretty emotional."
The Rams didn't advertise what they were doing. Even Green Mountain
athletic director Jim Thyfault was kept in the dark until just before
the game.
Said quarterback Josh Newman: "It made me realize what I have and what
some people have to go through. If you think you have it bad . . ."
Arsen's incredible number of surgeries -- his 69th will be this month
at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center -- just about floored Rams
senior guard Jared Parker, who has worked closely with his father,
the coach, to keep the team involved.
"Our coach always talks about toughness, and Arsen is a poster boy
for toughness," Parker said. "It's hard to hear about such a high
number. It was incredible, so humbling."
Added Coach Parker: "It's a story of perseverance. Our kids see a
lot of what a family does to help their child."
All Arsen, his mother and eighth- grade brother, Hrach, can do is
continue to be patient. It has been worth it -- doctors in Armenia
and Germany, his mother said, indicated they could provide no help,
so she turned to the United States.
"They say he die," Elmira said. "But thank you, God, and thank you,
American people."
They have spent seven Christmases without the family father, Artur,
a baker denied a visa from home. There is hope that treatment and
Arsen progressing into teen years will help him outlast the growths.
Arsen remains undeterred about his future, which he predicts will
include becoming a throat doctor after playing quarterback.
Expect to see Arsen at another Rams game soon.
"We're in high school playing, and that's what his dream is," Jared
Parker said, "and to be able to bring it to him is incredible."
By Neil H. Devlin
Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_103755 83
Sept 4 2008
CO
LAKEWOOD -- When Green Mountain High School's football team danced
and chanted its way off the field after its season-opening win over
Durango, the Rams were in step, in tune and didn't botch a line.
There were no dress rehearsals or pesky directors, just a command
performance by a group of inspired players who turned it into a moment
that will be replayed in their minds forever.
"This one was for you, Arsen," the team yelled to Arsen Lazarian, an
11-year-old Denverite who, on a good day, is probably not more than
70 pounds soaking wet yet is the toughest hombre the Green Mountain
teenagers know.
For one night at Jefferson County Stadium, Arsen, whose desire is to
become a high school quarterback, lived at least part of a dream.
He was a game-day guest of the Rams last Friday. He traveled with
the team to the stadium, addressed the team during the pregame and
halftime, took part in warm-ups, roamed the sideline and high-fived
the players. He served as an honorary team captain and sported a Green
Mountain sweat shirt with his name on the back, along with the number
68, which matches the count of throat surgeries he has endured the
past seven years.
The native of Yerevan, Armenia, is on a seven-year, three-country
odyssey in search of a cure for recurring throat tumors (laryngeal
papillomatosis). He has the raspy voice of a miner and has been
separated from his father for more than half of his life, and his
condition scares his mother half to death on a daily basis.
But his presence among a giving high school football team meant more
than a state championship.
"It was beyond special," Rams assistant coach Bill Parker said. "It's
amazing how a grown man can admire kids. You'd think it would be the
other way around."
Arsen may be a struggling 11-year old, but acts like "30," according
to his mother, Elmira Poghosyan, and is a pure ham for attention. The
sixth-grader at Whittier Elementary taught himself English with the
help of television cartoons.
As for Arsen's best memory of Friday night? Getting carried off the
field? Hanging out in the locker room?
"I liked going out before the game on to the field to meet the other
team," he said of the coin toss.
Arsen has lived at the Ronald McDonald House in east Denver since
he was 4 and is believed to be the longest-tenured resident in any
of the 270 houses worldwide. The houses are near hospitals and were
built for sick children and their families.
Over the past couple of years, the Rams have been going to the house
once a month in the offseason to bring food and help cook, spend
time with the kids and try to be a positive influence. The team was
unanimous in taking it up a step in 2008.
"I don't think you can understand what these kids go through unless
you've been through it," said Rams head coach Bob Hudson, a longtime
state figure who lost his first wife more than a decade ago during
the birth of their son. "We decided to get Arsen and his family to
a game, and it was pretty emotional."
The Rams didn't advertise what they were doing. Even Green Mountain
athletic director Jim Thyfault was kept in the dark until just before
the game.
Said quarterback Josh Newman: "It made me realize what I have and what
some people have to go through. If you think you have it bad . . ."
Arsen's incredible number of surgeries -- his 69th will be this month
at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center -- just about floored Rams
senior guard Jared Parker, who has worked closely with his father,
the coach, to keep the team involved.
"Our coach always talks about toughness, and Arsen is a poster boy
for toughness," Parker said. "It's hard to hear about such a high
number. It was incredible, so humbling."
Added Coach Parker: "It's a story of perseverance. Our kids see a
lot of what a family does to help their child."
All Arsen, his mother and eighth- grade brother, Hrach, can do is
continue to be patient. It has been worth it -- doctors in Armenia
and Germany, his mother said, indicated they could provide no help,
so she turned to the United States.
"They say he die," Elmira said. "But thank you, God, and thank you,
American people."
They have spent seven Christmases without the family father, Artur,
a baker denied a visa from home. There is hope that treatment and
Arsen progressing into teen years will help him outlast the growths.
Arsen remains undeterred about his future, which he predicts will
include becoming a throat doctor after playing quarterback.
Expect to see Arsen at another Rams game soon.
"We're in high school playing, and that's what his dream is," Jared
Parker said, "and to be able to bring it to him is incredible."