The Stittsville community continues to rally to raise funds for Michael Meehan, the nine-year-old Stittsville boy who’s been diagnosed for the second time with Leukemia.
Next up is a benefit on Saturday, January 23 at the Johnny Leroux Arena. It’s sponsored by Brown’s Your Independent Grocer, with bar services provided by the Stittsville Lions Club and entertainment from Quality Entertainment.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by emailing Peter Vukovic at peter_vukovic@sympatico.ca. He’s a member of the Guardian Angels School Parent Council.
Friends of the family have also set up a GoFundMe page, and as of Friday night they’ve raised over $12,000 of their $20,000 goal. He’s undertaking clinical trials as part of a new treatment in Montreal, and the money raised will help reduce the financial stress on the family during this time.
Here’s a note from the GoFundMe page:
Michael Meehan was born with Down Syndrome and a rare brain malformation, Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum. He was first diagnosed with leukemia in January 2013 after complaining about pain in his side. Michael had just started ski lessons so his parents at first thought it was simply some kind of related soreness. But when the pain persisted, they took him to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, where he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Despite that treatment, which demanded two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy, Michael managed to help raise more than $45,000 for CHEO, and represent both the hospital and the Canadian Cancer Society as a community ambassador. That work earned him national recognition in March as one of five “heroes” selected by the Canadian Down Syndrome Society.
Earlier this year, with his cancer officially in remission, Michael had his implanted medicine port removed and rang the end-of-treatment bell at CHEO.
But during a routine blood test in mid-October, doctors discovered Michael’s leukemia had returned. Michael began painful Chemotherapy sessions at CHEO hospital.
Recently, the Meehan’s discovered that Michael wasn’t reacting to the Chemotherapy. The doctor’s suggested Michael begin a new treatment called CAR-T cell therapy which is offered in Montreal, Quebec.
Michael and the Meehan family are now preparing for yet another long and painful fight with new treatment and hopes for Michael’s recovery.
During this entire battle Michael has had a smile on his face and has inspired many of us to stay positive and keep fighting until the battle is won.
