Hovakah selected as honorary survivor for Moody County ACS

Posted

Each year, the Moody County chapter of the American Cancer Society chooses a survivor to honor at their annual event.

This year, Hovakah Bosin, Jr. was selected as the honorary survivor.

Just as Hovakah was beginning kindergarten a year ago, h was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-cell ALL).

His mother, Jessica Hovland, said his journey of recovery in the past year has been and probably always will be the toughest thing their family has ever had to go through.

“As a family, to see him going through this treatment, losing his hair, going through those characteristic things on TV that becomes real life, that has been hard to accept and deal with day to day,” Hovland said.

She said having her son selected as the honorary survivor was surprising, especially since he is still going through treatment.

Hovakah has been in remission since the end of February and his prognosis is good. He will remain on a treatment plan until the end of February 2020.

“It’s a great honor that he was chosen for the event, and it really helps raise awareness of the different types of cancer, especially pediatric cancer,” Hovland said. “It’s important for him at this point to know he has this support.”

She said every day is different for their family. They could think it’s a good day based on how they feel, then get lab work back and have to rush to Sioux Falls.

Even so, Hovland said her son is very excited to be a part of the fashion show as well as getting back to school.

He started the first grade in Flandreau in August, his first time back in school since October 2016.

“He really likes to make people aware of what’s going on,” Hovland said. “He knows, and he’s not shy about sharing that with other people.”

Over the past year, a number of fundraisers have been held and donations made for Hovakah,  Hovland and their family, which includes an older sister, Autumn, and dad, Hovakah Bosin, Sr.

These include being chosen as the Sparkle Car Wash’s nonprofit of the month for August 2017, a bake sale at the Bean and Vine last fall and an Indian taco feed at Eastman Hall earlier this year.

Hovland said with her son still going through treatment, the school’s been an amazing support system and fully onboard and accommodating with everything going on.

“It’s just really overwhelming,” Hovland said. “I don’t think we’ll ever be able to fully express our gratitude. It really makes you appreciate what a small community is.”

During the fashion show, Bosin’s sister Autumn will walk and model with him.

Hovland said the event will be a nice opportunity to meet with other cancer families, to see and hear other people’s stories, but also to make the day about awareness.

“He has a type of cancer you don’t hear about as often,” Hovland said. “ … People ask about him all the time. It will be nice for them to see him in person.”

Family Fashions for the Fight, hosted by the Moody County American Cancer Society, will be held at the Janklow Community Center in Flandreau at 2 p.m. this Sunday, September 24.