Sixteen‑year‑old Meshaun Tubbs, a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, is fighting an extremely rare form of muscle cancer that has returned after an initial remission. Despite enduring five days of chemotherapy every three weeks, the determined teen has become a semifinalist in the Stan Lee Super Kid competition, a national contest that could turn him into a comic‑book superhero and provide a $25,000 prize.
Medical battle and family support
At age 12, Tubbs was diagnosed with a rare muscle cancer featuring three unique genetic alterations—an combination doctors had never encountered before. Aggressive chemotherapy put him into remission, but the disease resurfaced last year. “Like, I knew it was going to suck all over again,” Tubbs said, describing the emotional toll of his relapse.
Each treatment cycle lasts five days, during which Tubbs is hooked up to machines and copes with the harsh side effects of chemotherapy. His mother, Keisha Tubbs, expressed the strain on their family: “It is extremely hard. I absolutely despise this life,” she said, noting that the medication has changed the son she once knew.
Stan Lee Super Kid competition offers hope
While searching online, Keisha discovered the Stan Lee Super Kid contest, which promises the winner a trip to Comic‑Con, a transformation into a comic‑book hero, and a $25,000 cash award. “I told him about it and he was so excited—he’s jumping, screaming,” Keisha recalled. The competition attracted roughly 84,000 entries nationwide, and Meshaun is now one of only 84 semifinalists.
Beyond personal recognition, Tubbs intends to use most of the prize money to help other children battling cancer. “I’m also going to use most of the money to help the cancer kids,” he said.
How to vote
Voting for the competition is open to the public and will close on November 12 at 10 p.m. Residents can support Tubbs by visiting the contest website and casting their vote.
Community response
The local community has rallied around Tubbs, sharing his story on social media and encouraging others to vote. Local churches, schools, and civic groups have highlighted his courage as an example of perseverance and faith during difficult times.
As the voting deadline approaches, Tubbs and his family remain hopeful that the combined support of Cincinnati residents and the broader contest audience will carry him to the final round, offering both a morale boost and tangible resources for the fight against childhood cancer.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
