'Hope In Everything:' Oklahoma City Girl Overcomes Cancer Through Love Of OU And Softball

One metro girl has a dream to play on softball’s grandest stage. Her hopes fly high, but she’s conquered much more off of the diamond. 

Parker Henderson has seen more hospital rooms than most people experience in a lifetime. She’s 10 years old -- but she carries a spirit far beyond her age.  

“I can’t let go of it,” Henderson said. “I just love softball.” 

Hitting a target requires good mechanics and plenty of practice. Henderson holds the passion and drive to strike out anything holding her back. “Ninety percent my heart,” Henderson said.  

Her coach Bailey Mckittrick knows that fact because she has seen it.  

“She’s been a pure joy to be around,” Mckittrick said. “She’s handled a lot harder things than just softball.” 

January 9, 2022, Henderson remembers the day well. The day doctors found acute lymphocytic leukemia -- the day she hung up her glove. “Crazy,” Henderson said. “It was just hard just like watching my team go without me. That’s probably the hardest thing.” 

OU Health’s Dr. Chinni Pokala fought alongside Henderson at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. “... to find hope in everything,” Pokala said. 

Henderson’s mom, Kate Henderson, saw her daughter stare cancer in the face. 

“She is the strongest person I know,” Kate Henderson said. “I’m gonna just keep swinging and that’s what she did.” 

Her cheerleaders wear crimson and cream. OU Softball team members including head coach Patty Gasso supported Henderson throughout her cancer treatment. Henderson hopes she'll wear those colors someday too. “Sooner magic,” Henderson said. 

 Former Sooner and Henderson’s coach Grace Green believes in her dream. “It is so much more than softball,” said Green, who was part of three national championships with OU softball. “I think [Packer] had six RBIs in one game a couple weekends ago. Ridiculous.” 

Green helps Henderson rediscover her swagger on the diamond. “It does mean a lot to be a part of it,” Green said. 

Beating cancer has a nice ring to it. Henderson rang her bell this year surrounded by a standing-room-only crowd. “Friends and family – those are two of the best things you can have,” Henderson said.  

Henderson is back on the diamond where she belongs. She is working to hit her mark even though she’s already smashed life out of the park. 

“Never stop believing,” she said. “There’s always hope in everything.” 

Doctors will continue to support Henderson through her health journey. Henderson said she feels relief and can focus on her life and love for softball. 

OU health doctors said acute lymphocytic leukemia care has come a long way. They said cure rates are more than 95 percent.