From the Detroit News:

June 25, 2012 at 1:00 am

Kicking stress helps sick kids

• By Oralandar Brand-Williams
• The Detroit News

Detroit— Daunte Davis was only a few days old when he was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, resulting
in an enlarged spleen and multiple blood transfusions.

The constant pokes of needles to deliver much­needed medications to battle the disease made going to the
doctor a harrowing experience for the youngster.

But all that changed about five years ago when Daunte, now 9, joined Kids Kicking Cancer. The program
helps children facing cancer and other serious illnesses “to breathe in the light and blow out the dark”
through martial arts relaxation and meditation techniques.

The program also helps the children manage the stress, anxiety and pain of their illnesses and medical
treatments, and this week will begin a campaign to introduce the program to more Metro Detroiters.
During their doctors’ visits and medical procedures, the children use a deep breathing and relaxation
exercise called “breath brakes” in which they inhale deeply and then exhale with shallow breaths while
counting to three. Some move their arms away from their bodies and others close their eyes.

“I would probably still be sick in the hospital,” said Daunte, who moved his small arms away from his body,
illustrating how he does the relaxation technique. “I used to have needles in me like every week. It took my
pain away.”

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