PHOTOS BY GABE WOLF Wearing a mask because cancer treatments have lowered his immunity, Kempner teen Sinjin Andrukates prepares to answer questions from Hanna Springs Intermediate School students during a recent cancer awareness puppet show presented by Lyall and Penny Langlois of Canada. Doctors treating Sinjin for Burkitt's lymphoma told him this spring he likely had just two to four months to live, but six months after a bone marrow transplant the teenager is back at home with his mother. D

octors warned Sinjin

Andrukates this spring that even with a bone marrow transplant he had less than a 5 percent probability of surviving Burkitt's lymphoma and possibly had just two to four months to live.

During a recent visit to Hanna Springs Intermediate School, however, the Kempner teenager not only educated students about cancer, but also celebrated the 170th day since his transplant.

"Don't be afraid to talk about it," Sinjin said. "If you think positively and have hope and faith, you can beat it -- and millions of people have."

Lyall and Penny Langlois of the Pembroke, Ontario-based Friends and Neighbours Club, present a cancer education puppet show to Hanna Springs Intermediate School students. Mrs. Langlois created the "Sinjin" puppet -- the one on the right -- after corresponding with Kempner teenager Sinjin Andrukates, who recently visited Hanna Springs for the show, nearly six months after he received a bone marrow transplant to treat a rare form of cancer. The teen answered questions from students after a puppet show -- which included a "Sinjin" character -- presented by Lyall and Penny Langlois of the Pembroke, Ontario-based Friends and Neighbours Club.

A project of the Phoenix Centre for Families and Children, the Friends and Neighbours Club presents educational puppet shows to prekindergarten through sixthgrade students about a variety of health issues.

Mrs. Langlois created the Sinjin puppet after corresponding with the Kempner resident through Caring Bridge, an Internet community some cancer patients use to share their online journals.

During their presentations at Hanna Springs, Mrs. Langlois and her husband presented a video tribute to Sinjin, then began a series of puppet shows that discussed improvements in oncology treatments and encouraged students to empathize with children who face cancer.

After each puppet show, students had an opportunity to ask questions about cancer and how Sinjin has dealt with his diagnosis. Queries ranged from how a person gets cancer to the effects of chemotherapy to what kind of support one can receive while trying to overcome cancer.

"We could have been here an hour," Phoenix Centre executive director Greg Lubimiv said of the question-and-answer sessions. "That's the richness of this program. [Students] will keep talking to each other, and we'll send some follow-up information for the teachers."

Sinjin, who wore a mask because treatments have lowered his immunity to common illnesses, arrived at the school shortly before noon to talk with students.

The previous day, he and his mother, Lorna Mahan, drove from Fort Worth to Kempner -- where the teen is back at home after his transplant -- and then on to Temple for an oncology support group event. Sinjin and his family then traveled to Denton last Saturday for a benefit concert.

"That is the most excitement he's had in a year and a half," Ms. Mahan said. "He's exhausted."

Mostly, though, Sinjin is excited to be living back at home after months spent in a hospital room.

He also told Hanna Springs students he appreciates the support he has received and the opportunities he has had to encourage other youth facing cancer.

Sinjin's list of acquaintances grew at the Hanna Springs event, where he met Lampasas youth Logan Sneed, who has been cancer-free since 2005.

"These kids come with an amazing story," said Logan's mother, Tricia Sneed. "They're tougher than most adults."