John Antorino, Cover Model/Actor: Serious, Special Request
I am seeing if you can help me somehow help a very sick little 10yr old boy from my area that I am friends with his family. He has terminal brain cancer. His family is struggling in every way. It's so sad. I have been doing all I can to help, money wise and bringing them food and drinks. They are having a benefit at the end of the month.
Any way you can post something on your blog/website to the authors etc?? Or get some things donated? Anything? I would REALLY appreciate it. ANYTHING. I am just heart broken by this. It is terrible.
Here is his story: Justin Alvarez is a very special little boy. He was born to a loving family on January 21, 2001. Justin’s mommy is a breast cancer survivor, so this family is no stranger to the “C” word. However, we were shocked to say the least on February 4th, 2009 when the doctor told us that Justin had a baseball size tumor in the left side of his brain. It was like our happy little family was hit by a freight train and then a week later hit again when the biopsy came back as a rare pediatric cancerous brain tumor called Glioblastoma Multiform (GBM).
Justin handled his battle better than all of the adults in his world, he really is a champ! He had surgery that removed the tumor and he went through a year of treatment. Postoperatively, his treatments started with radiation and then chemotherapy. Justin took his treatments and medications as if he were entering a boxing ring, ready to TKO the cancer that invaded his little body. At the end of his treatments and after the doctors removed his port-a-cath we celebrated with a HUGE pool party with a really cool pool that was provided by the Make-a-Wish foundation, that was Justin’s wish .
Justin followed up every three months with MRI’s to see if there were any changes or new growths, his mother a nervous wreck before EVERY SINGLE appointment. After a while of no new growth and news of the tumor bed looking good, it was encouraging to think that Justin Kicked cancer’s butt once and for all even though the odds were not on his side.
After over a year of clear 3-month MRI’s Justin’s care team moved his follow-ups to every 6-months. Well, on October 19th, 2011 (last month), Justin went to CHOP for his 6-month MRI follow-up and the cancer is back. This time, the cancer is inoperable and in his brain stem. Needless to say, our family is devastated all over again.
With the aggressive nature of this beast that invades his little body, Justin’s mommy and daddy didn’t have a lot of time to make choices. They researched, PRAYED, consulted different options, PRAYED, and decided to pursue the option that Justin’s care team at CHOP presented and PRAYED! This option is a Phase-1 Trial and only 8 children were accepted into this trial. Justin’s thoughts on this were, “I want to live and I will take whatever medicine to make me better”. He IS my HERO!
The objective of this medicine is to shrink the circulation that feeds the tumor cells. The side-effects are numerous and difficult. Justin has also been placed on an anti-seizure medication. He is beginning to feel the effects of his treatment and he is tired, in fact he posted on Facebook the other day that he “FEELS LIKE POOP”. I can only imagine!
Justin has a very strong faith as does his mommy and daddy. His daddy reads the bible to him every night and they are always praying. Justin continually posts on his FB page scriptures of encouragement. He asks for prayers for his mommy, to keep her strong! That’s how amazing this kid is!!
Justin is my nephew, my hero and has my heart. I can’t be prouder to have a family member like him. My soul aches for my sister and brother-in-law and Justin’s big brother Jeffrey as I can’t even begin to imagine their feelings of despair, confusion and hurt.
Justin is a 10-year old little boy who LOVES to watch movies, play video games and ride his bicycle. He has a zest for life like no other and is such an inspiration. Instead of going to school, he is going to CHOP to take medication in hopes to prolong the growth of the beast that invades his body. In NO way is this a fair offering but it is here and we have to deal with it.
Justin’s hospital bills, prescriptions and travel expenses are adding up and it has been really difficult for his daddy to work. SO, we are trying to help them raise money to get through this tough time. Our families GOAL is to begin this charity to move forward and help other families in the same situation. If we all pull together, we can get Justin’s family and hopefully other families through the time of crisis. Every little bit helps!!
We ask for your continued prayers, thoughts and support. We will be hosting some fund-raising events in the very near future to help off-set medical bills and expenses as a result of Justin’s treatments. Please stay tuned. Any help and ALL the prayers you can offer are truly appreciated. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of my family I want to THANK YOU for your prayers and support and God Bless.
Thank you- John Antorino
For questions/donation information, you can contact John privately at: superman530@yahoo.com
Justin's Facebook Page:
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Copyright © 2011 Marianne Stephens
