Ollie's Celebration of Life (Memorial)
Dear friends and family of Agustin and Michaela Antunez, near and far:
Please join us to support 7-year-old Ollie Antunez in his long battle against a rare and aggressive type of cancer, known as Wilms’ Tumor (with diffuse anaplasia). Your donation will be used to pay Ollie’s medical expenses, such as insurance copays, medicine, second opinions due to disease recurrence, possible relocation for treatment (possibly out of the insurance network), transportation, and other expenses directly related to his medical care. (See actions you can take and Ollie's full story at the bottom.)
Ollie’s parents, Agustin and Michaela Antunez, are actively advocating to find the most promising treatment for their son, and your donations will support their efforts. The first $2,500 in donations will be matched by a group of families from Davis, CA where Ollie goes to school. These families have come together to support Ollie’s family due to his heartbreaking situation and in appreciation for all that Ollie’s family has done for their school community and wider community in Davis.
You are invited to join our community in rallying around Ollie’s family, and support them in any way you can. Please spread the word and help support this precious boy and his family, who are such important members of our community.
Please donate today.
--Donate via this GoFundMe or give directly to the family without any fees taken out via: PayPal to agantunez at gmail.com or Venmo to @Agustin-Antunez-1
-- Other gifts or donations can be mail to P.O Box 72418, Davis, CA. 95617
Other ways to help:
1. Send a cheerful card or letter of support to Ollie and his sister Izzie to: P.O. Box 72418; Davis, CA 95617
2. Join the Food Train: Ollie's Community
https://archrespite.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/741137/login/
3. Send your love, prayers, and good thoughts to the entire family
4. Share this fundraiser and invite your friends and family to help Ollie in his fight against cancer in whatever manner they are able. Include #Rally4Ollie on your social media posts.
With great appreciation for whatever you can give,
Erbacher Family, Fletcher Family, Russ Family, Hokanson Family, Lucas Family, Oliver Family, Buxton- Beck Family, and many other friends of the family
Ollie’s story:
In December 2020, after three visits to the ER due to increasing pain and other symptoms, Ollie was hospitalized and later he was diagnosed with a rare type of pediatric kidney cancer (known as Wilms’ Tumor with Diffuse Anaplasia, stage III). According to the American Cancer Society, there are between 500 to 600 cases of Wilms’ Tumor per year in the U.S. and Wilms’ Tumor accounts for 5% of all pediatric cancers. There are three types of Wilms’ tumor and Ollie’s type is the most aggressive.
Since his diagnosis, Ollie has faced several, often painful, health complications. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ollie was hospitalized for 55 consecutive days due to complications and procedures requiring the interventions of a multidisciplinary group of medical experts and caregivers. In December 2020, Ollie started his chemotherapy and in February 2021, he went through a major and risky surgery to remove the tumor and affected areas. Two weeks later, he started his course of radiation therapy. By the end of June 2020, Ollie had completed half of his chemotherapy. Additionally, from March through June, Ollie was admitted several times to the hospital for scheduled and unscheduled visits. It has been very difficult and painful for Agustin and Michaela to see their son suffering since last fall.
Sadly, at the end of June 2021, Agustin and Michaela received terrible news from Ollie’s primary oncologist. The results of the mid-treatment CT scans to evaluate the regimen’s effectiveness indicated that the tumor had not responded to the treatment. Unfortunately, the cancer is back, and it is growing. According to Ollie’s primary oncologist, Ollie is in a very difficult situation, with very limited therapeutic options. Some of the treatment options are: to use experimental, targeted intervention and/or to start a new combination of drugs that have a synergistic effect and to which Ollie’s tumor may possibly be susceptible. If the tumor responds to this drug combination, then there would be the possibility of bone-marrow stem cell transplant and more radiation.
While they take care of their two children, Ollie and Izzie (7 and 10 respectively), Ollie’s parents are facing several consequential decisions. Agustin and Michaela are doing their best to find the most promising possible pathway to help their son. Currently, they are requesting second opinions nationwide, searching for clinical trials, and they are considering transferring Ollie’s medical care to a different hospital if necessary. Unfortunately, this undesirable journey Ollie’s family has endured has taken a big toll on them, financially and emotionally.
If you live locally in Davis, you may have met Ollie’s dad Augustin since over the last several years he has volunteered countless hours at Cesar Chavez Elementary. Agustin has volunteered in the school classrooms, he also has been the school’s apparel coordinator, Chair of the School Council, active member in the School Climate Committee, chair of other committees in the school district, and he has also helped many families from various local schools. Additionally, before the pandemic Agustin and his family invited many families to recreational soccer practices for children. Please join us to support him and his beloved son Ollie.
#Rally4Ollie