On October 14, 2011 at approximately 8:30 p.m., my sister, Stinelli, calls to let me know that my brother-in-law, Tim, was taking their only child, Johnny O, to an after hours clinic due to possible allergies or some sort of infection. At 1:30 a.m., She calls back with the most chilling cry I have ever heard and tells me that Johnny O was being admitted in the Pediatric ICU in Dallas and that a large gray mass was found around his heart, lungs and his liver was filled with fluid. The next day, he spent his seventh birthday with all kinds of iv's, tubes, and respirators attached allover his little body. Family and friends flew from all around the country to give support for him and his parents!
After a week of testing the pathology findings is that he has the rarest forms of Cardiac Sarcoma Cancer (yes, it's HEART CANCER) an extremely rare form of soft tissue cancer in the peracardium (sac around the heart). Johnny is one of 14 known cases worldwide and possibly the youngest one. He has since been transfered to Houston to the world renowned MD Anderson/Texas Children's Hospital and is uder the care of the world's top specialist for his case.
Let's move forward, almost 3 months later, Johnny is on his 4th round of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor and to prepare him for the next treatment plan which most likely will be open heart surgery, and then radiation. Please pray with me to give Johnny and his parents the strength and courage to make it through his most difficult period in their lives.
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I thank god everyday for the support and prayers from the doctors, researchers, medical staff, friends, and strangers who help us teach and show Our Little Angel love, courage, and strength.
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Please support Johnny O'Leary and his fight against cancer by helping raise funds for
Childhood Cancer Awareness through
The CureSearch Walk for Cancer Event in Houston
on February 18, 2011
On behalf of my sister and brother-in-law, Stinelli and Tim O’Leary and their son, Johnny, age 7, who is undergoing treatment at MD Anderson in Houston, TX for cardiac sarcoma, I am writing you today to ask for your support of an incredibly important organization, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. We have organized a team on Johnny’s behalf to participate in the CureSearch Walk for Cancer event on February 18, 2012 in Houston. Your generous donation supports CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a national non-profit foundation whose mission is to fund and support children’s cancer research and provide information and resources to all those affected by children’s cancer. CureSearch raises funds for collaborative research conducted at more than 175 hospitals across the nation. These hospitals participate in National Cancer Institute sponsored clinical trials conducted by the Children’s Oncology Group. In the last 40 years, collaborative research has increased the overall survival rate for children’s cancer from 10% to 78%. At CureSearch, our goal is 100%.
Please consider making a donation to Johnny’s campaign. There is no gift too big or too small. Our team’s fundraising goal is $3,000. Help us surpass it! Please also consider joining our team on February 18, 2012. The links provide all the information to donate or walk with Johnny’s team on February 18th.
LET YOUR HEART LEAD THE WAY!
Follow This Link to visit Johnny O's personal web page and help him in his
efforts to support CureSearch for Children’s Cancer
