The face of Joshua Cranfill was still a happy one from his recent second birthday as he wandered energetically throughout the front office of Pasadena High School in his Houston Texans pantsuit greeting students and employees with a bright smile and showing off his soon-to-be famous touchdown victory dance.

Although he has some 20 years before he faces the battles on a professional football field, Joshua is somewhat prepared as he has already faced one of the toughest battles a small child ever could—cancer.

At only five months of age, Joshua, son of former Pasadena High School agricultural teacher Allan Cranfill, was diagnosed with a rare cancer in May 2006 that caused a tumor to grow behind his left eye. After undergoing 48-weeks of chemotherapy, the tumor went away only to return again in April 2007. As the Cranfill’s medical bills continued to climb, Pasadena ISD employees and students have gone the extra mile to help the struggling family.

Most recently, Pasadena High School students in the constructive systems course hand-made 70 Christmas tree ornaments raising more than $2,000, which the students gave to the Cranfill family right before the holidays and two days after Joshua’s second birthday.

“Words can’t describe how I felt,” said Cranfill. “The people of Pasadena, especially Pasadena High School, have been so good to us since I started there, even way before Josh’s situation began. These students have so much going on in their lives, and just to think they spent a little of that time focusing on my family is so touching. We are so blessed to have angels like these surrounding us.”

And angels are exactly what the students made for Joshua as the ornament design was two angels surrounding Joshua’s name. Victoria Harris, course instructor and fundraiser initiator, said the ornament design represented the prayers school employees and students are saying for Joshua’s recovery.

“We’ve sustained many set-backs by our angels,” said Cranfill. “We have angels that we’ve never met that pray for Josh and sign his website with inspirational messages, angels in our family that spend every free moment with us to help hold down the fort while we’re in the hospital and friends that pray for us every night. These students and those who donated money are our newest angels.”

Harris said she was inspired to start this fundraiser for the family because both of her parents had cancer.

“The experience of watching someone you love go through the brutal process of radiation therapy and chemotherapy is devastating,” Harris said. “I remember how helpless I felt being part of that process with them. Through the Caringbridge Foundation website, I witnessed the same process happening in the life of my ex-coworker Allan and his family. I wanted to help.”

Harris modified the angel ornament, a pattern the class already had, by adding Josh’s name in the middle. From there, the students made copies of the ornament and created cutting patterns. Each student was in charge of cutting out a stack of five ornaments on the scrollsaw, which is a task Harris said her students had never done before.

“Stack cutting is an advanced method of scrollsaw cutting where many pieces of wood are fastened together and cut all at the same time,” Harris said. “The process requires patience and persistence, especially with the tedious pattern we chose for the ornament. My kids felt like I had thrown them in over their heads, but in the end, they made 70 beautiful ornaments.”

After cutting the patterns, the students sanded, cleaned and sprayed the ornaments with layers of primer and then gold metallic spray paint. Once finished, the students cut and glued bows so the ornaments could hang from a Christmas tree in the school’s front office. Cards were also attached to the ornaments so those who made donations for the ornaments could put their name and well wishes for the Cranfill family on the card. The project took a total of 30 hours for the students to complete. Harris asked for donations for the ornaments to start at $10, but employees and students were far more generous.

“I feel overwhelmed by the response I received from this fundraiser,” said Harris. “I’ve never attempted anything like this. It’s kind of like throwing a party and wondering if anyone will come. I didn’t need the Santa Anna winds to start this fire. I presented an opportunity and our school spirit took over. I was only the spark. God bless all the generous hearts that created this success.”

Cranfill said the making of the ornaments goes to show people can make a difference in the lives of others even if they don’t have the money to give.

“I just feel that there is no such thing as a small act in charity,” he said. “Basically, these students turned one hour a day at a scrollsaw into something that will allow a family to pay medical bills and to stay together with a roof over their heads. That’s no small thing.”

Harris said she thinks it’s important for students to participate in projects such as this one because kids sometimes feel like they have nothing to give because they don’t have money.

“This was my way of demonstrating to my students that their talents and skills are every bit as valuable as any amount of money they could give,” she said. “They have everything they need in their hearts and in their hands to make a difference in their communities.”

While a hospital bed is no place for a child to spend his days or nights, Joshua does it with bravery, determination to overcome his illness and with his mother, father, 4-year-old sister Isabell and the thoughts and prayers of many by his side. Cranfill said this experience has served as the greatest learning opportunity his children could ever have.

“Even at two and four years old, this whole situation has begun to teach my kids to take nothing for granted,” he said. “Cancer can take away, but it can give so much, too. It has given me a closer relationship with my Lord, wife and children, and it has given us all an opportunity to meet so many caring people like these 18 high school students.”

Cranfill said he and his wife have high hopes and dreams for both of their children.

“Well, I hope Isabell’s dream comes true and that she will in fact one day become a princess,” he said. “Josh is destined to be an NFL quarterback or maybe a linebacker. He’s got the form tackle down by using Isabell as a guinea pig. Truly, I just hope they live to eventually experience the love of their own children. This experience has taught us so much but most importantly that each day is a gift and to treat it accordingly.”