Deluca Family Support

In the summer of 2016 Dominic Deluca was 19. He had just completed his first year at Mass Maritime academy, was working full time and enjoying the summer with friends. His journey with cancer began out of the blue when he became overly winded playing basketball with friends. His walk in visit at the urgi care proved to be more serious and it brought him to Beth Israel Plymouth who then transported him to Brigam and Women’s Dana Farber Clinic. It was there that he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia ft3. Dominic began 3 months of aggressive rounds of Chemotherapy where he was quarantined to his own hospital room for treatment until he could receive the bone marrow transplant that would put him in remission. 

Dominic fought off several infections and endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy enough to put him into remission and begin his Bone Marrow Transplant journey in December 2016. He continued to beat all the odds staying in remission and passing the 100 day and 6 month and one year milestones all while even contracting other infections that left him with blurry vision, blisters in his throat, muscle cramps and stomach pains. Always the fighter Dominic was eager to get back to school and live a normal life and began taking classes again. In March 2019 Dom began feeling ill, with further testing showing his cancer had returned. His doctors concocted another “out of the box” treatment plan that took him through both inpatient and outpatient chemo treatments. The leukemia seemed to remain at bay but all of the medication had taken a toll on Dom’s bones. On January 6th, 2020 he had a full hip replacement for his right hip. While recovering from hip surgery Dom received the good news of his latest bone marrow biopsy, he was back in remission! In February 2020 Dom received several DLI’s (donor lymphocyte infusions).

The Deluca’s have been on a roller coaster and their journey continues as Dan Deluca, a Norwood Highschool teacher and Dominic’s Dad, had not been feeling well and even losing some weight over early summer months of 2020. After extensive blood work and testing it showed that he had cancer growing into the wall of his pancreas. Dan was diagnosed with Ampullary cancer. He was immediately scheduled for surgery on September 11th that required a week long hospital stay and at least a month of recovery at home. Dan may still need radiation and chemo for treatment as the cancer had grown roots but we are all praying and optimistic that resection and treatment will keep it from spreading further.

Dominic’s journey has brought him to just under the 5 year mark when in mid September he began showing signs of Bell’s Palsy on and off. On September 10th at his Dana Farber appointment his physicians immediately ordered testing including an MRI which showed his cancer progressing into the central nervous system as well as his previous bone marrow transplant relapsing. Dominic immediately started an aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatment approach that night. This was all happening the night before his Father Dan’s surgery. Dominic and his doctors are in crunch time as they are fighting cancer in his brain and spine as well as his bone marrow relapse. 

Today the Deluca families journey has become more critical. On September 26th, Dominic spiked a fever, was rushed to Beth Israel Plymouth and then Med Flighted to Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston where he is currently in the ICU. Dominic is currently on a ventilator fighting off a sepsis infection as well as pneumonia. 

As always when the odds are stacked against Dominic he fights harder. But NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE! - The Deluca’s need our support. They are the type of people that would always welcome you into their home and give you the shirt off their back and want for nothing in return. We all want to support the Deluca’s in every way we can. They give back and participate in their Sandwich community whenever possible. Dominic, a 2015 Sandwich highschool graduate was a pop warner football team member, Dan was a football coach and his wife, Dominic’s mother Dottie, a cheerleader coach. The proceeds of this fundraiser will help support this Forestdale family while they are by their son’s side and throughout Dan’s journey. They need the help, support and prayers now more than ever. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.


NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE!