10-year-old with brain tumor inspires CSU volleyball

Sara Robinson is at risk for a seizure every second of her life.

She's battling a tumor attached to the optic nerve on her left eye.

She's been in and out of hospitals her whole life. Classmates don't understand her epilepsy and she has trouble making friends.

"She has a hard time communicating," said Jay Robinson, Sara's dad. "Kids her age tend to shy away from her because they don't get it."

Sara, who is 10 years old, doesn't have any siblings.

Or didn't, until five months ago when she found 15 sisters willing to do anything for her.

Through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, Sara was adopted in March by the CSU volleyball team.

"It's exceeded my expectations the way they've taken her under their wings. It's just amazing everything they've done," said Mary Robinson, Sara's mom. "They're phone call away if we need them. They're the most amazing bunch of young women I've ever met."

The Robinson's adopted Sara at birth. At 3 days old she had her first seizure. At 10 days she was diagnosed with epilepsy.

In March of 2014 an MRI turned up a parent's worst nightmare. Sara had a brain tumor behind her left eye attached to her optic nerve.

Immediately Sara began six months of chemotherapy. It failed.

She went straight to radiation treatment as the tumor grew.

Five days a week she underwent treatments at Children's Hospital (donations to help alleviate medical costs for Robinson's can given at gofundme.com/killSarasCancer).

Throughout the treatments, players and coaches would check in on Sara.

"It has perked her up considerably through all this nasty stuff," Jay said. "It's helped a lot. If she didn't have this good disposition, it wouldn't be as easy."

Sara's tumor — which is unrelated to her epilepsy — has stabilized for the time being.

Her epilepsy means she's constantly at risk for seizures.

She's tried at least 20 drugs to keep them under control. Sometimes she's stable. Other times — as it has been recently — she has a rash of seizures.

But everything seems fine when she's with her new family.

When Colorado State University adopted her, they brought the family to the locker room and every player gave Sara a gift. Since then the bond has flourished.

Sara and the players call, text and exchange Facebook messages. She joins practices and they'll take her out for ice cream or go to the park. The social media feeds of the players are filled with pictures of them and Sara.

During the summer they camped out in the locker room, eating candy and watching Disney movies. Sara, senior setter Crystal Young and senior outside hitter Alex Reid stayed overnight and had a slumber party in the locker room.

"When can we have another sleepover?" Sara now asks whenever she sees them.

For a school project Sara wrote a book about her newfound sisters and at home almost every topic of conversation is about her adopted family.

When she visits the team — which is ranked No. 12 in the nation and opens the season at home Aug. 28 — she's a beacon of happiness and energy, bringing grins to the hardest practices.

"That was a bad serve!" she yells when Jaime Colaizzi puts a serve into the net.

"Her telling me my serves were bad just puts a smile on my face," Colaizzi said with a laugh. "She's given back to us more than she even knows. Just looking at all the things she's gone through, we complain about small things. It really puts perspective on our lives."

Long after practice ends, Sara joins Young and Reid in passing the ball on an empty court. She's outfitted with all the same gear the players wear. With spindly, long legs that foreshadow a growth spurt, they tell her it's a matter of time until she's playing right alongside them.

At team picture day earlier this month Sara was presented with her own No. 30 jersey. She has a personalized locker, just like the rest of the players. She'll be on-court pregame when the Rams host Northern Colorado Sept. 8.

She's a chatterbox on the court, running around and talking with each player, a constant smile on her face. Her parents have seen her grow and mature since being taken in by the team.

"I think it's been really wonderful and has really helped Sara's self-esteem," Mary said. "Her maturity has really changed."

Sara's parents can hardly contain their happiness and pride when watching her bond with the players and coaches, but the team insists Sara has given them more than they have given her.

"She's (10) years old. She's been through more than anyone could ever imagine and she's the happiest, most fun kid to be around," Young said.

"Honestly, it's a life-changing experience."

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle at twitter.com/Kevin_Lytle and at facebook.com/KevinSLytle.