Child cancer survivor to help raise awareness

Feb. 12--Payton Dominick isn't afraid of losing his hair. In fact, the 10-year-old cancer survivor from Boiling Springs has willingly shaved his head the past three years for a good cause.

"My hair grows back really fast. It took me about like two weeks to get mine from almost bald to back to this," Payton said while running his hands through his shaggy light brown hair.

Payton was diagnosed when he was eight months old with stage three neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that forms in certain types of nerve tissue. The cancer started in his adrenal gland above his kidneys and pushed organs out of the way before wrapping into his spinal cord.

Payton spent much of his early childhood in hospitals, at doctor's appointments and undergoing treatment and surgeries in his battle against the cancer.

Allison Dominick, Payton's mother, said nurses and physicians have since become like a second family to her son during his frequent visits.

"We were finished with the bulk of the treatment by the time he was two," she said. "What he remembers the most is the therapy, the doctors' appointments and a couple of hospitalizations."

Today Payton is in remission following several rounds of chemotherapy and more than a handful of surgeries.

While Payton has made and kept many friends in the childhood cancer community during his journey, he said he's had several friends pass away from the disease. It's what has inspired him to find a way to not only share his story but also to give back to others through charitable work.

For the fourth year, Payton is raising money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, an organization focused on research and clinical trials to find cures and better treatments for children with cancer.

Part of Payton's cancer treatment was funded through a St. Baldrick's grant.

Dominick started volunteering with the organization when Payton was two years old. Once Payton was old enough he started fundraising for the organization.

"He enjoys it and he works so hard to try to raise money," Dominick said. "Every day he's asking where he is with fundraising. He very much wants to reach his goals and feel like he's doing his part."

Payton raised more than $1,200 for the organization last year and wants to raise $1,500 this year.

He started a fundraising page at stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/943842/2018 and hopes to reach his goal by March 18, when he will be one of the many people shaving their heads at the 11th annual St. Baldrick's of the Upstate in downtown Greenville.

"I want to help find a cure for cancer because some of my friends that have had it have passed away from it," Payton said. "We're thinking this year maybe we can get a group of my friends and they can raise money to help us, and then we'll all shave our heads.

Robert Tiffin, a volunteer event organizer for St. Baldrick's of the Upstate, said the annual event is not only a way to raise money and spread awareness of childhood cancer, but also a way to show support for children who have lost their hair from cancer treatments.

Tiffin said Payton used to come to the event and sit on his mom Allison's lap to watch. He remembers Allison asking a few years ago if Payton could shave his head.

"I remember at the event I talked to him and asked if he was nervous about getting his head shaved, and he said 'no,' " Tiffin said. "We have face painters at our event and after he got his head shaved he said he was looking forward to getting a blue arrow painted on his head like the avatar (from The Last Airbender). He was all excited about being that guy."

Although he's been cancer-free for about seven years, Allison said Payton still deals with secondary issues that are effects of cancer. The family still travels every week to physical therapy sessions and to see different specialists in Powdersville, Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston, she said.

Allison said last summer, Payton needed another back surgery for cancer damaging his spinal cord.

"He was in a lot of pain and it was just difficult for him, was tiring him out and he wasn't able to act like a normal kid," Allison said. "But he's a determined little fighter. The day we came back home from the surgery, he wanted to go to his vacation bible school at church and he was ready to get back into his routine."

Allison said it has been important to allow Payton to live as normal a childhood as possible -- going to school, kicking around the soccer ball and playing on a basketball team for the first time.

"Even though I've still been through a lot I still like to have fun," Payton said.

Payton's caring nature extends beyond childhood cancer. He likes finding ways to help the homeless, contribute to canned food drives, donate toys and assist pets at humane societies.

He has even talked with Allison about starting his own foundation focused on kids making a difference through community projects.

"His little heart is just so pure and he just wants to tap into everything. It's just really sweet to watch him," Allison said. "We've talked with him about God having a purpose for him and there's a reason he's here doing what he's doing. Out of everything he's been through this is the blessing out of his story -- him making his mark on the world. In his own way, he has inspired others."

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