By Emma Wickman

Journal intern

Friday Harbor High School sophomore Quincy Vague is just like any other kid; he plays on the football team, attends classes and hangs out with friends and family. What sets Quincy apart from the rest is an inoperable brain tumor.

“Quincy is an inspiration beyond belief. I cannot believe someone can fight as much as he has,” said Jesse Sosebee, a University of Washington offensive lineman, on Facebook.

On March 9, Sosebee and fellow Husky Kaleb McGary visited Quincy in the hospital. They presented him with a signed jersey and football by the whole team and a pair of gloves.

They also talked shop, according to a video of the meeting taken by islander Mike Martin.

“My coach originally had me on the right side, but he moved me to the left,” said Quincy, a left tackle for the Wolverines.

“Oh, see, the left just needed our help again,” replied McGary, a right-side tackle.

All three of them laughed, and a smiling Quincy let his mom know he has hope.

The 16-year-old Quincy was rushed into surgery on Feb. 25, when doctors found a tumor in the back of his brain, near the spinal cord.

The cancer is not confined just to the tumor, but also located in the fluid around his brain and down his spine.

Quincy is currently receiving radiation treatments five days a week to fight against the cancer, as well as a blood clot in his brain, leaving him with extreme nausea, but he doesn’t let that get his spirits down.

“Quincy is in good spirits,” said his mom Hollye Vague. “He very much misses his friends at school.”

There will be a fundraiser for Quincy’s medical expenses at 5 p.m., Saturday, March 25 at Brickworks. The event includes a soup, salad and breadstick dinner, silent auction, dessert auction, and other fun surprises.

“We think it’s absolutely wonderful for the community to come together and put on a fundraiser like this,” said Hollye Vague.

Huskie coach Chris Petersen often explains what it takes to be a man, as well as the definition of toughness. McGary sees that in the sophomore.

“Quincy has real toughness; Quincy is a real man,” he commented on Facebook.

Fundraiser donations can be made anytime at Islanders Bank in the Quincy Vague Benefit Fund.

Financial and silent auction donations can be dropped off at Ernie’s Cafe between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., weekdays.

Other donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/quincys-medical-expenses.