St. Michael Teen Who Rallied Community Loses Courageous Battle

The post on Jenny Letellier's Facebook page said it all Saturday morning.

"5:38."

Those of us who had been following the Letellier family–Jenny, Rob, Jessica and Charlie–during Luke Letellier's two-year battle with cancer knew exactly what it meant.

After fighting a courageous battle, Luke had "earned his wings."

If they put wings on hockey skates.

As one CaringBridge entry from Darrin Maki Sr. stated:

"Luke changed this community and brought it together and made us appreciate more than ANYONE ever has."

He is survived by his parents, a brother and sister, countless friends and community that stood by him as he fought, day in and day out, a rare form of childhood cancer.

Luke died nearly two years to the day from his original diagnosis of Stage IV Advanced Rhabdomyosarcoma. He and his older sister, Jessica, were battling colds that day in 2010. Jenny had the doc check out a his calf muscle, while they were there, since it had been bothering her "Lukie" for so long.

They thought it was a strain. It turned out to be so much worse.

Within months, Luke's friends had rallied around the then-14-year-old, as he embarked on a journey of chemotherapy treatments, labs, scans and a bunch of terminology no eighth-grader should ever have to learn.

There’s the core circle of more than a dozen kids who have hung out since early They never left his side.

In the past, they would head out to the Mix family cabin and mess around, riding jet skis and playing in the water. They would hit or a movie, always together.

This year, those gatherings were relocated, though just as frequent.

“He’s our Super Man,” said Felicia Mix, a fellow sophomore and one of the crew, back in December. “He still has that sense of humor. He’s not going to get down. We’ve just moved our get-togthers to his house, which makes it easier for him. I think he inspires all of us so much, to just live. No matter what you’re facing. And that all you need is your friends.”

And a community that cared.

Luke was treated to benefit after benefit as the St. Michael-Albertville area tried to lift up the Letellier family. He was the first beneficiary of the Chad Smith Ride For Life, as Tobey Berning and company turned their attention from the Smith family–who also suffered a loss through cancer–to aiding someone in the community.

Students at the high school made shirts and bracelets. They created signs. They had "Luke Letellier Day," just prior to Christmas break.

“It’s really been cool to see how [Luke] has brought us all together as a school,” said senior Brock Green. “I think, in the past, it’s been class vs. class. Now, you see us all working together. It’s made us one school again. And I think it’s because we have so much respect for him as a person.”

Less than two weeks ago, via a Caringbridge site that was as well-read as anything in St. Michael-Albertville over the last two years, Jenny thanked those friends.

"They say 'I love you.' When they're just saying good-bye. I’ve never seen teenagers do what they’ve done for him.”

But, she said, it was time for Luke to spend time with his family.

Friday morning, as Luke struggled through another day, Jenny prayed for the Lord to "take his pain away."

“I remember how hard it was for all of us to hear that he was sick,” his best friend, Nick Akkerman said a few weeks ago. “I think, if he does leave us some day, he will really live on through us. He’s just as good a friend as anyone could ever ask for.”

* CORRECTION: This article has been updated to correct Luke's father's name. Patch error.