Teen is Energizer & Inspiration

CHARLES CITY, IA--A North Iowa girl is being called an energizer and an inspiration.

Now Chloe Downey of Charles City is receiving national recognition for her upbeat attitude as she battles cancer.
 
The 15 year old is a semi-finalist in a contest.

"I'm kind of honored," said Chloe Downey, who is battling leukemia, "I never considered myself an energizer I just keep going."

The Charles City High School 9th grader is among a hundred people nationwide being recognized for their energy, determination and spirit.

Greg Fisher, Charles City High School Principal, said the honor fits, "There's that pride and that never give up attitude and I think that's what Comet spirit's about I think Chloe is a very good representative of that."

Last October the member of the class of 2012 was diagnosed with high risk acute lymphoblatic leukemia.

It’s a blood cancer requiring painful chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

"Probably my faith is what helped me the most through it, said Chloe, who is still receiving chemotherapy.

She is currently re-growing the hair she lost and is never quite sure how she'll feel on any given day

We're comforted by "knowing that we're never alone, God walks with us every single day," said Colleen Downey, Chloe's mother.

She's missed some orchestra practice and class while receiving therapy, but Chloe's working hard to keep up with her music and studies.

She's "a tremendous inspiration to her classmates and other kids in our school system," said Fisher.

Chloe's "beads of courage" string is now more than 20 feet long as each one of the colored and distinct beads documents every step in her treatment and recovery.

Thanks to her, other patients will likely do the same in the future at the Rochester Mayo Clinic.

She hopes her story encourages others

"Just because you get cancer or something like that happens, you don't give up, you can get through it," said Chloe.

Colleen Downey said her daughter's form of leukemia has an 85% cure rate.

Chloe's goal is to graduate among the top of her class.

The 100 semi-finalists will now enter a second judging phase and be narrowed to a group of 10.

One winner will be chosen from the finalists and you can vote on them.

We have included a link to the contest web site on this page.

On July 9, Chloe will be the teen spokesperson at the Make-A-Wish foundation fundraiser in Clear Lake.