Jan 26, 2018 4 min read

When Bill and Sharon Partridge’s warrior princess goes into battle Feb. 10, her uniform will be a poofy, red dress with sparkly shoes.

Savannah, 10, won’t be going it alone. She’ll be accompanied by her father and fellow dancers when she competes in the American Cancer Society’s Washington County Dinner Dance in the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe.

“I’m pretty nervous,” said the North Strabane Intermediate fifth-grader. “But we’re doing a pretty simple dance.”

Compared to what she has endured, this endeavor will be minor.

In Jan. 2016, when she was 8 years old, Savannah was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in her upper right arm. She and Sharon spent an average of 20 days a month at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for treatment, which was hard on the family of four, including older brother Dylan.

Savannah eventually had a 15-hour bone resection surgery that included removal of the humerus bone and surrounding muscles, nerves and tendons. Doctors then transplanted the fibula bone from her leg into her arm.

It was the first surgery of its kind done successfully at the hospital.

Savannah’s battle wasn’t over, though. She had surgeries on both lungs to remove cancerous cells and has spent countless hours in physical therapy to regain the use of her left leg and right arm.

Her parents said that, throughout the ordeal, Savannah was rarely without a smile on her face, and was asked to speak to other children who were diagnosed with cancer in the hospital.

Sunday evening, when she and her father rehearsed for the event with fellow dancers, Savannah was once again all smiles as she chided her father after their spin around the floor to Rascal Flatts’ “I Won’t Let Go.”

“You kept looking down,” she told him after they practiced their continental dance.

“I have two left feet,” replied Bill.

The Partridges got the idea to participate in the annual dance competition from their friends, the Kazakewiczes, whose daughter Avery was almost 7 when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. The families met in the hospital and realized they lived in the same community.

Avery and her father, Steve, danced in last year’s event.

Bill said the experience has made him want to keep dancing, despite his two left feet.

“We’ve enjoyed it so much,” he said.

In addition to leading her father around the dance floor, Savannah plays clarinet, has a black belt in taekwondo, and enjoys creating art.

Her parents, who refer to Savannah as a true example of courage and faith, said she has been an inspiration to many.

Jill Motzer, who with her husband, Steve, will perform a transition dance, incorporating the waltz and cha cha, said Savannah’s presence has heightened Sunday night dance rehearsals at the North Strabane Township Municipal Building.

“This has given her strength,” said Jill, who has been cancer-free for eight years. “When we first started, she couldn’t get through the entire dance.”

Savannah and Bill, the Motzers, Aaron and Kristen Hunt, and Deb Krieger and Jim Veneski will perform numbers choreographed and taught by Ron and Ruth Sanders. The couple has been teaching dance together since the 1980s and has volunteered their time for the past several years to the American Cancer Society event. Also performing are Carole DeAngelo and Rob Anders of the Observer-Reporter.

Savannah, who in September 2016 was named an honorary member of the North Strabane Township Fire Department – members call themselves “Savannah’s Soldiers” – will be led across the floor to her waiting father by Steve and the other dancers.

Ruth has no doubt that her youngest performer will shine.

“Savannah picked up the dance quite easily,” she said. “And we’ll be there to make sure everything goes well.”

Tickets can be purchased at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/CommunityFundraisingPages/CFPCY18NER?pg=entry&fr_id=89114 and designated to support a dance team. Donations also can be made by choosing a dance team and going to their personal page.