School Releases Balloons In Honor Of Student Who Died Of Cancer
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A high school student who lost her battle with brain cancer was honored Thursday for her bravery.
Weeks after Rachel Woell's death, teachers and students at Minneapolis' St. Charles Borromeo School held a balloon release in her honor.
We first shared Rachel's story with you this fall. The 18-year-old student at Totino-Grace High School captured the spirit of her football team, with whom she worked as the team manager.
Rachel was known for her smile and was adored by the players. She died one month ago after leaving a game at half time.
Rachel's mother, Yvette Woell, was at the balloon release at St. Charles Borromeo, where her daughter went before high school.
"It was an atmosphere of love," Yvette said. "It was beautiful, and I know Rachel is smiling down on them."
Rachel was first diagnosed with brain cancer when she was in second grade. Yvette recalled how even when her daughter was in elementary school, she wasn't self-conscious about being different from other kids.
"It didn't matter, the outside, it was what was inside that counted," she said. "We asked her a number of times if she wanted to go get a wig or something to put on her head, and she said, 'Why?'"
Anne Flynn was Rachel's science teacher.
"She was a real blessing to this school community," Anne said. "And her mom, oh my gosh. What a fantastic family. They're just beautiful people."
Even though she is now cancer-free, Anne still wears her school ID from 2010, when she was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Rachel's fight inspired Anne not to hide her hair loss with a wig.
"The first thing I thought was, 'If Rachel can do this, I can do it,'" Anne said. "She inspired me to get some fun hats and, you know, different scarves and things. And it was a beautiful thing."
The students at St. Charles Borromeo also released balloons for Rachel last May.
It was a year ago that doctors discovered a more aggressive tumor that forced another round of radiation and eventually led to Rachel's death.
There is a scholarship fund in her honor at Totino-Grace, which is a Catholic high school in Fridley.
Her mom says she wanted other kids to be able to experience what she enjoyed so much.
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