Colton Andrew Memphis Placek

Colton Andrew Memphis Placek, 15, passed away in a peaceful and restful state at his home, Saturday, September 28, 2019.  He was surrounded by his closest family and friends.  He was born July 19, 2004 in Rutherford Co.

He is survived by his parents, Jennifer Joseph of Bradyville and Andrew Placek of Woodbury; siblings, Ayden Placek and Larissa Collette both of Bradyville and Celestia Nadeau of Murfreesboro; Grandparents, Lisa and Wade Sissom of Bradyville and Danny Joseph of Manchester; Uncles and Aunts, David, Daniel Joseph and Brandy DeHaven all of Manchester and Samuel Sissom of Bradyville and Andrea Placek of Mooresville, IN.; Great Uncle and Aunt, Paul and Manissa Smartt; Best Friends, Kylee Lowe and Gavin Wilson.

Colton was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2016 called Osteosarcoma.  It first affected his right leg, below the knee.  Teens are most often affected by this type of cancer.  It usually starts around the time of puberty in areas that have fast bone growth such as the long arm and leg bones most commonly.  It can start in any bone; however, Colton was affected by high grade Osteosarcoma, meaning it was particularly fast growing.  About 400 children are diagnosed with it in the U.S. every year.  Osteosarcoma makes up 2% of childhood cancers so many people are unaware that it even exists.  There are clinical trials that treat it but without funding it is hard to get this type of cancer to be made a major priority to find effective treatments beyond what already exists.

“I would like Colton’s three-year battle with cancer to be a steppingstone toward Osteosarcoma awareness.  It seems ironic that he passed away during Childhood Cancer Awareness month, but I would like to use his story as a hope toward a cure in the future.  He went through multiple surgeries, had to learn to walk again, went into a short remission only to have it reappear in his lungs.  This is what made it excessively hard to treat because this is the point in which current treatments methods are limited.  He endured two lung surgeries to remove tumors but unfortunately the cancer decided to hold its grip onto his little body and continue multiplying despite every available treatment. 

Throughout all these major surgeries, Colton never complained.  Ever.  He spent the equivalent to more than an entire year being inpatient at Vanderbilt.  Throughout all the nausea, hair loss and other devastating side effects, he still got up every day without a single complaint and fought with everything he had.  He fought until his very last peaceful breath.  My wish is that he would be a source of encouragement for other people battling terrible things in life.  He was just your typical teenager that loved to wear black clothes, converse shoes and play video games.  He loved his brother and his two sisters.  He loved animals and planting flowers with me in our yard.  He had an old soul and was extremely intelligent and wise beyond his years.” -Jennifer

Graveside services will be 4 pm Wednesday, October 02, 2019 at Ivy Bluff cemetery, 8597 Ivy Bluff Rd., Morrison, TN, with Steven Smith officiating.  Pallbearers will include Ayden Placek, Gavin Wilson, Hagen Fann, Jackson Thomas, Cordell Howell, Samuel Sissom and Byron Clay. Visitation with the family will be from 1 pm until 8 pm Tuesday, October 1^st at Woodbury Funeral Home, 504 W. Main St. Woodbury, TN.  37190.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Woodbury Funeral Home to help his family with funeral expenses.  To leave condolences for his family you may visit www.woodburyfuneralhome.net  or call 615-563-2311.

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