Run for Dimitri!
Donation protected
Dear All!!
This October 15 I will be doing a 13.1 mile run with a dear friend Jimmy, for my personal hero Dimitri Manoukis. Dimitri is a VERY special friend who I met in Sunrise Day Camp 2 years ago, and who has inspired me every day since then. Dimitri has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and is going for another set of treatments this October. Please lets help raise money for his treatment but lets also raise money for a vacation to Greece for him and his beautiful family, his sister Angelika , his mother, father, and his grandparents,who have been heros through this process as well. Please please please donate and lets give the the Manoukis family a trip to Greece full of love and happiness and away from cancer.
For everyone who donates, will receive a crochet owl keychain/ornament, please (email me your address: [email redacted] . For all the donations over 25 you can request a keychain animal of your choice.
(note this is not my design nor so i claim it as my own - just about what the owls would look like)
Below is Dimitri's Biography:
Dimitrios Gabriel Manoukis was born on February 12, 2003. His mother Susan and his father George, along with their 11 year old daughter Angelika, live in Whitestone, NY. His paternal-grandparents, also live at the same home, just downstairs and help in the care of their grandkids.
Dimitri was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, at age 5 on June 7, 2008. Dimitri underwent chemotherapy treatments at the NYU Langone Hospital / Stephen Hassenfeld Clinic for Cancer and Blood Disorders. He was later in remission for 2 years.
On July 24, 2013, after a routine eye exam and further tests, Dimitri was diagnosed with Intraocular relapse of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at Age 10. Relapse of (ALL) involving the eye is a rare and challenging problem. This meant that there was a dormant leukemic cell in the central nervous system and later traveled to the brain, in which the cells infiltrated behind the eyes. Several MRIs show intracranial pressure and fluid causing his optic nerves damage. He is considered legally blind. He can only see very close up and uses a sight cane.
Dimitri underwent intensive chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments for an extensive period of time. Spinal taps, MRIs, blood tests, blood transfusions, eye exams, and medications were also part of his treatment. After 3 long years of treatment, Dimitri was in remission for only 6 months.
On May 1, 2016, after a special request from his doctor to have another spinal tap, (checkup is usually done after 1year) they found some ALL cells that were still hiding in his spine. This was heartbreaking to the family. The cancer keeps coming back. The doctor said that the chemotherapy and radiation are resistant to these cells. The only recourse now is to do a clinical trial, T-Cell therapy at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Dimitri visited CHOP a few weeks ago and they extracted all of his white blood cells in order for them to begin the process. The cells will be reprogrammed to become super soldiers. In October, they will call him back to insert the cells in his body. These super soldiers will look for all the cancer cells and destroy them. Dimitri will have to stay at the hospital for 6 weeks under close observation. His body will go into complete shock, immune system overload. Some side effects of this new therapy will cause him to have high fevers, to be catatonic or even go into a coma. The family prays this new clinical trial will work once and for all. Dimitri has suffered the majority of his life.
Dimitri loves video games and hopes to become a gaming programmer one day. His favorite toys are Transformers, Godzilla, and Super Mario. He dreams of going on a dream vacation with the family. Dimitri is a sweet and shy boy. He always laughs, smiles and never complains. He is a resilient child. He is looking forward to being “cancer-free”.
This October 15 I will be doing a 13.1 mile run with a dear friend Jimmy, for my personal hero Dimitri Manoukis. Dimitri is a VERY special friend who I met in Sunrise Day Camp 2 years ago, and who has inspired me every day since then. Dimitri has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and is going for another set of treatments this October. Please lets help raise money for his treatment but lets also raise money for a vacation to Greece for him and his beautiful family, his sister Angelika , his mother, father, and his grandparents,who have been heros through this process as well. Please please please donate and lets give the the Manoukis family a trip to Greece full of love and happiness and away from cancer.
For everyone who donates, will receive a crochet owl keychain/ornament, please (email me your address: [email redacted] . For all the donations over 25 you can request a keychain animal of your choice.
(note this is not my design nor so i claim it as my own - just about what the owls would look like)Below is Dimitri's Biography:
Dimitrios Gabriel Manoukis was born on February 12, 2003. His mother Susan and his father George, along with their 11 year old daughter Angelika, live in Whitestone, NY. His paternal-grandparents, also live at the same home, just downstairs and help in the care of their grandkids.
Dimitri was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, at age 5 on June 7, 2008. Dimitri underwent chemotherapy treatments at the NYU Langone Hospital / Stephen Hassenfeld Clinic for Cancer and Blood Disorders. He was later in remission for 2 years.
On July 24, 2013, after a routine eye exam and further tests, Dimitri was diagnosed with Intraocular relapse of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at Age 10. Relapse of (ALL) involving the eye is a rare and challenging problem. This meant that there was a dormant leukemic cell in the central nervous system and later traveled to the brain, in which the cells infiltrated behind the eyes. Several MRIs show intracranial pressure and fluid causing his optic nerves damage. He is considered legally blind. He can only see very close up and uses a sight cane.
Dimitri underwent intensive chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments for an extensive period of time. Spinal taps, MRIs, blood tests, blood transfusions, eye exams, and medications were also part of his treatment. After 3 long years of treatment, Dimitri was in remission for only 6 months.
On May 1, 2016, after a special request from his doctor to have another spinal tap, (checkup is usually done after 1year) they found some ALL cells that were still hiding in his spine. This was heartbreaking to the family. The cancer keeps coming back. The doctor said that the chemotherapy and radiation are resistant to these cells. The only recourse now is to do a clinical trial, T-Cell therapy at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Dimitri visited CHOP a few weeks ago and they extracted all of his white blood cells in order for them to begin the process. The cells will be reprogrammed to become super soldiers. In October, they will call him back to insert the cells in his body. These super soldiers will look for all the cancer cells and destroy them. Dimitri will have to stay at the hospital for 6 weeks under close observation. His body will go into complete shock, immune system overload. Some side effects of this new therapy will cause him to have high fevers, to be catatonic or even go into a coma. The family prays this new clinical trial will work once and for all. Dimitri has suffered the majority of his life.
Dimitri loves video games and hopes to become a gaming programmer one day. His favorite toys are Transformers, Godzilla, and Super Mario. He dreams of going on a dream vacation with the family. Dimitri is a sweet and shy boy. He always laughs, smiles and never complains. He is a resilient child. He is looking forward to being “cancer-free”.
Organizer and beneficiary
Elena Kozlova
Organizer
Stamford, CT
Susan Manoukis
Beneficiary