Prayers for Anthony
Hello to all Friends, Family, and anyone else who is willing to generously open their hearts and help support Anthony with his battle against Leukemia.
Anthony’s mama, Danielle Savarese, has been a tremendous support system to me and my family from the moment we brought our twins into the world. As a fellow twin mom, she has been there for me day in and day out in any way she could possibly be. I ask you to read their story, and please consider giving back to a family who’s always been a support system to others.
The last few weeks, this sweet baby boy has been sick on and off. The last 10 days were especially terrifying for him and his family. His health was diminishing and his mothers instincts were like sirens blaring. She knew he didn’t just have a virus. After 9 full days of high fevers, loss of appetite, extreme lethargy and irritability, she asked for a blood panel. To her horror, his blood count was dangerously low and she was advised by his pediatrician to take him to a pediatric ER immediately. He was severely anemic and needed a blood transfusion. As scary as that is, it was even scarier for his parents to think about exposing their very sick boy to an emergency room filled with other sickness, including covid-19. They refused to put him in any more danger and fought tooth and nail until he was admitted directly to NYU Langone pediatric hospital. Thankfully, his pediatrician helped fight along side them and they got him to avoid the dreaded ER. After many invasive tests, long conversations, and hours that felt like years, theywere slammed with every parents nightmare. Their baby boy was diagnosed with leukemia. Specifically, a type known as B-ALL. At that point, with Anthony’s white cell count being so low that any further infection could have compromised his life, his mother was thankful she fought as hard as she did.
Shortly after this diagnosis, Anthony received a blood transfusion, bone marrow biopsy, and a spinal tap. Additionally Anthony had to have a port placed in his chest for his chemotherapy to be administered. As you all can imagine, this has been an extremely trying and frightening time for Anthony and his family.
However, despite everything that this beautiful boy has been through in these past few weeks, he remains to be a bright beam of smiling sunshine. Reading his books, talking up a storm, drawing on his magic board, playing with his Elmo and superhero toys, flashing that smile at all the pretty nurses! He never skipped a beat. His amazing spirit is inspiring. His friends and family, and especially his mama, are in awe of this perfect boy and his beautiful soul. He gives us all strength we never knew existed.
Unfortunately, this is the terrible reality that Anthony’s parents are currently facing. Among the financial insecurity we are all facing as fellow people living in a very different world then the one we were familiar with, we can all understand the fear and uncertainty Anthony’s parents must be feeling and we can all agree that the cost of treatments, traveling back and forth to NYU, and having to take off from work to be with their baby boy should be the last thing this family should be worrying about at this time.
For those of you who don’t know Anthony personally, I’ve asked his mother to write a little something about her amazing boy so you can all get a glimpse into his wonderful spirit:
”My Anthony Joseph, is truly the sweetest boy you will ever meet with the brightest smile that will easily steal your heart away.
From the moment he was born, he has been a fighter with the most incredible, zen, spirit. Anthony was born at 35 weeks along with his twin sister, Isabella. Both of my babies were sent to the NICU where they would stay for the first 10-11 days of their lives. Isabella was born 3 pounds 6 ounces and Anthony was born 5 pounds 8 ounces. Although Isabella was tiny, she was quite mighty, just like she is today, and was medically just fine. Anthony, however, had breathing problems. His lungs were not fully developed and he ended up needing to be intubated and sedated. He also had a feeding tube. His first hours in this world were spent being poked and prodded without me by his side. But that never stopped him. Each day I would visit and speak to him through his incubator, put a hand in to rub his belly and assure him that even though Mommy couldn’t hold him yet, I was always there. He would smile at the sound of my voice and was improving every day. 10 days later, on Christmas Day 2017, I was able to hold my boy for the first time and take him home. What a wonderful gift. I remember so clearly how the nurses in the NICU would tell me constantly what an angel my boy is and how he barely cried. He was born amazing.
Anthony has been through a lot in his short time here on earth. He was born with tortichollis (twisted neck) and needed physical therapy at just 4 months old. By the time he was 12 months old he started receiving more therapy through Early Intervention for growth delays which include physical, occupational and speech therapy, 5 days a week, sometimes multiples sessions a day. Each one of his therapists quickly fell in love with his calm and sweet demeanor. He was behind in his milestones but he never stopped smiling while catching up.
Over the last year, I have watched my boy blossom into the most amazing, active, sweet, kind, affectionate and incredibly smart toddler. He may have been a late bloomer but my goodness is he beautiful flower. The most beautiful in the garden, so full of color and life, with this incredible smile that could melt ice into a puddle. ”
With that being said, I am asking all the parents out there, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, grandmothers and grandfathers, and to anyone who may be able and willing at this time to help us help Anthony and his family, to help lighten their load during this unfortunately heartbreaking experience, and to come together and help out in any way that we can. The smallest donation can help make a difference in their lives at this time. Thank you all for your time and your generosity.
