Yvonne Barnes is a flurry of motion.
Under the pavilion at Marie B. Ellis Park on Laura Street, she quickly puts chafers full of food along a picnic table.
It’s just after 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, and it’s evident Barnes has been at the park for hours already: balloons and “Happy Birthday!” streamers align the park fence. Cutouts of Minnie Mouse’s signature bow sit atop pink-frosted cupcakes. Guests wear the classic mouse ears.
Barnes fixes her eyes on the road.
She’s waiting on her daughter, Demetrise Forbes, and granddaughter and guest of honor, Jahanna “Hanna” Forbes.
It’s Hanna’s birthday party. The Minnie Mouse fanatic is just a few days shy of turning 2. To celebrate, her family has thrown her the biggest birthday bash imaginable, complete with a performance by dance team United Starz.
It’s a happy day surrounding what’s been an unbearable month for Hanna’s family: the little girl was diagnosed with kidney cancer just eight weeks ago.
When Hanna arrives, she is given a crown. Underneath it, a small spot on the back of her head is missing hair. She doesn’t care as the United Starz dance team enters the pavilion to perform a step routine.
Hanna and her mom are front and center in the audience.
The music starts.
I got the eye of a tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire.
Here for Hanna
On March 11, one of Hanna’s daycare teachers felt something sharp and hard while changing her. She quickly called Hanna’s parents.
At the hospital, doctors delivered the news: Wilms’ Tumor. Stage four.
“It’s very rare,” Barnes said. Hanna’s family was told the kidney-based tumor was found in only about 600 kids per year. “She has tumors in her lungs too. One is 11 centimeters, almost half her stomach.”
Hanna’s sick — a lot. She’s lost much of her hair from chemotherapy and dropped sizes from a 4T to a 2T.
There’s a lot of unanswered questions and worry about what’s coming next. But at her birthday party, Hanna’s friends and family aren’t thinking about the future. They’re celebrating with all the people and things that Hanna loves — especially dance.
“Hanna loves the arts,” Barnes said. “Her favorite artist is Rihanna.”
That’s where Tessie Holmes comes in. The United Starz CEO has been friends with Barnes for about a year and one half.
Hanna’s illness touched her heart. Three years ago, on Christmas Eve, it was Holmes who received a diagnosis: breast cancer.
Today, Holmes is in remission, a status she’s had for over a year. She’s transitioning from patient to mentor and stepping in to help Hanna through the long months to come.
“I was mostly in a state of shock, because of her age,” Holmes said. “It really touched me. I want to give her security. I want to basically be her security blanket. I just want to be another mentor to her.”
When Stars Align
Holmes founded United Starz in December 2015 with a goal of getting girls out of the streets and busy doing something that would benefit them in the long run. Before arriving at Hanna’s birthday party the team of about 15 girls attended a Faces of Courage retreat for cancer patients.
“It was the first time they went,” Holmes said. “They’re doing four more retreats this year.”
Holmes’s goal is to get her organization up to 25 kids. While she was growing up, her mother was unable to afford extracurriculars for Holmes and her siblings. As the United Starz CEO, Holmes wants to make her team an option for all who want to join, regardless of financial status. Barnes serves on Holmes’ board of directors for the organization.
“All they (the girls) have to do is do good in school, do what they need to do at home, come to practice and have respect,” Holmes said.
The girls on the team sell candy to be able to go on trips and retreats. Lincoln Elementary helps with fundraisers. With support of the community, parents and Lillie Brown at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, the organization is able to give back. United Starz sponsored part of Hanna’s birthday party, including the DJ and renting the park.
Holmes hopes the extra activities teaches “her kids” about compassion, especially when they meet the people they’re helping.
People like Hanna.
“I don’t know where she’s going to be at (later),” Barnes said. “This is one of the best days for her now. I just want her to enjoy it.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.