Author finds his most poignant subject yet

Michael Miller

Trevor Romain has made a career writing books about the difficulties

of youth, like homework, bullies and losing grandparents. When the

author and illustrator visited a children’s hospital in Ohio a few

months ago, however, he found his toughest project yet.

“I walked into the cancer ward and saw this one guy, and he was

like a shining light,” Romain recalled. “Even though he had had all

these surgeries, he still smiled at me. He found out I was an author

and said he wanted to write a book for other kids with cancer.”

Romain took the young patient -- one Tylor Lauck, 14, of Columbus, Ohio -- up on the offer, and the two have been collaborating ever

since on a book titled “Cancer Took My Leg But It Can’t Take My

Spirit,” which consists of telephone conversations between them.

Unlike Romain’s fanciful other books replete with parables and bright

illustrations, the “Cancer” book will be unillustrated and targeted

toward a wider audience.

In addition to getting published, Lauck had another lifelong wish:

to see California. This morning, he’ll fulfill that dream as a guest

of honor at the Newport Beach Film Festival, where two short movies

based on Romain’s books -- “How to Do Your Homework Without Throwing

Up” and “Bullies are a Pain in the Brain” -- are showing as part of

the Family Film Series.

“He’s had nine brain tumors, he’s lost his leg, and unfortunately,

he’s been told he’s near the end,” Romain said of young Tylor. “He

used his wish for the Make-A-Wish Foundation five years ago, and he

wants to go to California before he dies.”

So Romain, who serves as a board member of the National

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation and has worked in the past

with Make-A-Wish, flew Tylor and his parents out to Newport Beach for

the weekend.

“I just thought it was wonderful,” said mother Denise Lauck. “My

son needed this, but we all did. It’s great that there’s somebody out

there who would do something for us like that.”

She said the book-in-progress has boosted the spirits of Tylor,

who doctors say may have less than a year to live.

“He just wants to help other kids who have cancer and let them

know that even if they have cancer, they can still be kids and do

what they want to do,” Lauck said. “He wants to tell them not to give

up on it.”

Romain’s body of work contains something identifiable for nearly

every young reader. On Friday at Lincoln Elementary School, the South

African-born author visited Amy Balser’s second-grade class and

Charlie Fisher’s special education class to talk to young students

about peer pressure and bullying.

In talking to the students, Romain drew on his own experiences

growing up as a dyslexic child. Due to his size and his handicap, he

said, he was often the target of bullies himself.

“I double-dog dare anyone in this room to stand up for someone

who’s being picked on, or include someone who’s being left out,”

Romain told the second graders. “It’s the easiest thing in the world

to be mean to someone. It’s much harder to be nice.”

Romain’s visit to Lincoln Elementary was sponsored by the Film

Festival, which will also host director Jimmy Grimes at Corona del

Mar High School Wednesday.

Leslie Feibleman, the festival’s director of community outreach

and a Lincoln parent, said organizers had pushed during the last

three years to make the Family Film Series a citywide event.

“It’s unbelievable how the filmmakers just want to come out and be

part of our community,” Feibleman said.