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My name is Mark Quinby and I am a senior at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Ca. I am honored to be a VC Warrior, playing varsity baseball and football. I have been selected to participate in the POWER SHOWCASE All-World/All-American Baseball Classic and Home Run Derby giving me the opportunity to help two special families in my community by raising funds for ongoing medical expenses.
“Home Runs That Help” is the community outreach initiative of the POWER SHOWCASE All-World/All-American Baseball Classic. I am partnering with two fellow Warriors to raise funds through a home run derby to be held at the Miami Marlins Stadium in December.
My buddies are Parker Berry, a 2nd grader at Valley Christian Elementary School, diagnosed at 2 1/2 years old with spinal cord cancer and Samuel Wheeldon, an 8th grader, who is currently battling Leukemia and awaiting a bone marrow transplant. I am inspired by the strength and bravery of these two courageous Warriors!
Please help me raise funds for their ongoing medical care.
Here's how YOU can help these Warriors...
Give now with an online donation in support of Parker and Samuel's medical care! Any home runs I hit during the POWERSHOWCASE Home Run Derby will be dedicated to Parker and Samuel. Please read their stories below.
ALL DONATIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!
Thank you!
Mark
*Parker's Story*
At 2 1/2 years old Parker Berry was a healthy little boy until one day he started limping. After several doctor’s appointments and unanswered questions he got an MRI and that is when they found a tumor inside his spinal cord the entire length of his thoracic section. This form of brain cancer known as Pilocytic Astrocytoma when located inside the spinal cord is extremely rare. Surgery was needed immediately and no one knew what the outcome would be. Doctors told his family that chemo and radiation had not shown any positive outcome in the past when used to treat this type of tumor. Surgery was the best option and one week after the discovery Parker underwent a Laminectomy, an invasive 9 hour surgery involving operating around the nerves that controlled his entire body. Doctors were unable to remove the entire tumor and after surgery Parker couldn’t move from the waist down and his family was told he would probably never walk again. Months of daily rehabilitation and sheer determination Parker began to crawl, then pull himself up into standing position and eventually walk with a walker.
Three years later the tumor had begun to grow again and started to effect his mobility. Surgery was needed again and this time doctors were able to remove most of the tumor. Parker walked out of the hospital this time with his walker. It has been 6 years since his diagnosis and he is now in 2nd grade and walks with forearm crutches. Although he still is living with cancer, he is a fighter and has truly become an inspiration to all that he meets.
*Samuel's Story*
Samuel was first diagnosed with Leukemia (AML) in October last year. He was treated successfully at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital (4 sets of Chemotherapy) and declared in remission in March/April this year.
He managed to attend Valley Christian before the end of the school year. Recently, the Leukemia came back and he has since gone through two more sets of Chemotherapy and is at home waiting for a Bone Marrow Transplant. A suitable donor has been found and the transplant is scheduled for November this year.
Thank you!
Mark
*Parker's Story*
At 2 1/2 years old Parker Berry was a healthy little boy until one day he started limping. After several doctor’s appointments and unanswered questions he got an MRI and that is when they found a tumor inside his spinal cord the entire length of his thoracic section. This form of brain cancer known as Pilocytic Astrocytoma when located inside the spinal cord is extremely rare. Surgery was needed immediately and no one knew what the outcome would be. Doctors told his family that chemo and radiation had not shown any positive outcome in the past when used to treat this type of tumor. Surgery was the best option and one week after the discovery Parker underwent a Laminectomy, an invasive 9 hour surgery involving operating around the nerves that controlled his entire body. Doctors were unable to remove the entire tumor and after surgery Parker couldn’t move from the waist down and his family was told he would probably never walk again. Months of daily rehabilitation and sheer determination Parker began to crawl, then pull himself up into standing position and eventually walk with a walker.
Three years later the tumor had begun to grow again and started to effect his mobility. Surgery was needed again and this time doctors were able to remove most of the tumor. Parker walked out of the hospital this time with his walker. It has been 6 years since his diagnosis and he is now in 2nd grade and walks with forearm crutches. Although he still is living with cancer, he is a fighter and has truly become an inspiration to all that he meets.
*Samuel's Story*
Samuel was first diagnosed with Leukemia (AML) in October last year. He was treated successfully at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital (4 sets of Chemotherapy) and declared in remission in March/April this year.
He managed to attend Valley Christian before the end of the school year. Recently, the Leukemia came back and he has since gone through two more sets of Chemotherapy and is at home waiting for a Bone Marrow Transplant. A suitable donor has been found and the transplant is scheduled for November this year.