Sammy's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Sammy is 9 years old and was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (A.L.L.) at the age of 22 months. Sammy underwent 3 and 1/2 years of treatment and went into remission with the chance of the disease returning being approximately 10%. In late October of this year he showed possible symptoms of its return and when went in to the Hematology/Oncology clinic at Sanford Castle Children's Hospital. Where it was confirmed that he had relapsed.
He is now in the beginnings of 2 more years of chemotherapy and just completed a round of radiology. He has undergone 2 months out of about 7 of moderate to intensive chemotherapy which will be followed by lower doses of chemo - the first rounds arrest the disease and the rest keep it away until finally he is placed in remission again.
Sammy spends over 50% of every month in the hospital undergoing treatment with one week off toward the end of each month. So far many of his "weeks off" have been spent in the hospital fighting side effects of wiped out immune system and sores from the chemotherapy and biopsies, lumbar punctures, radiation, and bone marrows to assure that the therapies are doing their job.
Message from his family...
"Sammy did have one wonderful week in December where he was able to whole heartedly pursue the love of his life -- ballet-- without resting or fatigue to the point of quitting. It is still a very memorable week for him and he looks forward to more weeks like it. Sammy fights through pain, fatigue, weakness and low spirits to go to ballet. He (we) are blessed to have found The Dance Gallery where they allow Sammy to attend any and all of his ballet classes at any level of participation he is up to- free of charge. He delights in going and is proud every time he is able to power through his class(es). Some days he is only able to sit through some of the classes but almost every time he does get some dancing in. With all that is going on, thanks to this wonderful dance company, Sammy will still be able to participate this weekend in their ballet, Coppelia, at the Orpheum all three days. We are eternally grateful!"
He is now in the beginnings of 2 more years of chemotherapy and just completed a round of radiology. He has undergone 2 months out of about 7 of moderate to intensive chemotherapy which will be followed by lower doses of chemo - the first rounds arrest the disease and the rest keep it away until finally he is placed in remission again.
Sammy spends over 50% of every month in the hospital undergoing treatment with one week off toward the end of each month. So far many of his "weeks off" have been spent in the hospital fighting side effects of wiped out immune system and sores from the chemotherapy and biopsies, lumbar punctures, radiation, and bone marrows to assure that the therapies are doing their job.
Message from his family...
"Sammy did have one wonderful week in December where he was able to whole heartedly pursue the love of his life -- ballet-- without resting or fatigue to the point of quitting. It is still a very memorable week for him and he looks forward to more weeks like it. Sammy fights through pain, fatigue, weakness and low spirits to go to ballet. He (we) are blessed to have found The Dance Gallery where they allow Sammy to attend any and all of his ballet classes at any level of participation he is up to- free of charge. He delights in going and is proud every time he is able to power through his class(es). Some days he is only able to sit through some of the classes but almost every time he does get some dancing in. With all that is going on, thanks to this wonderful dance company, Sammy will still be able to participate this weekend in their ballet, Coppelia, at the Orpheum all three days. We are eternally grateful!"
Organizer and beneficiary
Amanda Duckett
Organizer
Sioux Falls, SD
Kelly Denton
Beneficiary
