|
For young Zane Schulte, the son of Tom and Barbra Hulling Schulte, sports were his passion, pranks his delight and friends his way of life.
Even during a year-long battle with cancer, the 16-year-old fought the fight with the style of an athlete so impressive that his coach, Glen West, referred to the teen-ager as "my coach about life."
Zane spent many a week at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in last year, fighting his cancer with chemotherapy, and he always arrived with a bag of pranks. A rubber snake that he promptly attached to his I.V. pole to greet the medical staff a favorite. His gregarious outgoing personality added a string of new friends during his battle, from 5-year-olds in the cancer ward, whose hand he held during their first treatment, to a string of white-coated doctors and nurses. Along the way, his spirituality grew by leaps and bounds, becoming yet another area of his multi-dimensional life that affected others. When Zane Thomas Schulte lost that battle. Sunday, June 18, he left behind a legacy for others far beyond his years.
"Zane's faith grew exponentially throughout his illness," remembered his mother, Barbra, "and while we strived and believed in a cure, about 10 days before he passed on, he made a transition, looking toward Heaven with the same optimism and servancy he had held for life. You could see it become clearer and dearer in him, in his eyes, in his heart, with each passing day until he was shiny. It was incredible to observe. You could tell he was in the presence of God."
Zane, born Aug. 19,1983 in Seattle, Wash., had lived in Brenham, Texas, for most of his life. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma on June 24,1999, almost a year from the date of his funeral, Zane's numerous hospitalizations from M.D. Anderson to Tijuana only broadened the circle of individuals he influenced. Family members, life-long family friends and high school friends shared stories of Zane-style inspiration the funeral. So did Jorge Lara-Braud, a gentleman Zane met while in Tiajuana and Margaret Pearson, the assistant to Dr. Norman Jaffee at M.D. Anderson. Dr. Jaffee is world-reknowned for his studies in osteosarcoma.
Last year, a chronic knee soreness revealed Zane's osteosarcoma. After extensive chemotherapy, he then underwent knee replacement surgery Oct. 15 during which cells from a second form of cancer, malignant fibrous histeocytoma, were found. An aggressive cancer usually reserved for older men, only three cases of MFH had been diagnosed in children at M.D. Anderson prior to Zane's. Last April 20, in an effort to stem the spread of the disease, Zane's leg was amputated. From chemo, to surgery to amputation, young Zane Schulte remained undaunted, a spirit that touched the hearts of those who knew him.
"He had a contagious optimism," said Margaret Pearson during his funeral service. "Zane never saw obstacles, he only saw goals." Zane grew up around horses and in the back of show arenas since his parents, Tom and Barbra, are well-known figures in the equine-world. The couple own the Center For Equestrian Performance, a Brenham company that stresses the mental aspects of riding horses as well as the physical ones. The company offers numerous videos, tapes and books on preparing one's self mentally for riding in any kind of sport, and Barbra has traveled nation-wide both, as a speaker and as a teacher of training seminars. She has also trained cutting horses professionally and has numerous championships to her credit.
In addition to his parents' involvement, Zane's grandfather was the late Cletus Hulling, a well-known horse trader in the industry. His uncle, Cletus Hulling Jr., is a cutting horse trainer and his aunt. Tootie Lyons, showed cutting horses in the nonprofessional division for many years.
Prior to his death, Zane e-mailed a favorite teacher, also battling cancer, beginning the e-mail with "Well, Ms. Jenkins, we're going, through some tough times, but it just depends on how you look at it."
Zane had chosen to look forward. With a positive spirit he planned his funeral; chose his speakers, and pastors, and while friends lit votive candles at a special Sunday evening prayer service held by Father Kurt of the Monastery of St Clare, Zane Schulte passed on.
"He made us very proud," reflected Zane's mom. "It was a glimpse into the real heart of what life is and what Christianity really is. It was a tremendous gift he gave us."
Services were held June 21 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brenham, Texas, with interment in the Saint Matthews Church Cemetery in Sandy Hills, Texas. Memorials can be made to the:
Zane Schulte Memorial Athletic Scholarship Fund
c/o Texas Bank
2450 Becker Dr.
Brenham, TX 77833
The reflection of his deeply spiritual nature buoys his parents today. As Tom Schulte shared, referring to his son's e-mail, "We're going through some tough times, but it just depends on how you look at it. You can see his death as a tragedy or his life as a gift; that gives us comfort and makes us very proud."
reprinted with permission from The Quarter Horse News
|
