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Tommy's Story |
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![]() ![]() On April 25, 2008, Tommy Belsky, a five year old kindergartner in Hopewell, NJ, was diagnosed with leukemia. After various blood tests and bone marrow scans, doctors determined that Tommy has a rare acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), which affects about 500 children and adolescents in the US each year. He is currently at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and will remain there for treatment for up to one year. Tommy's parents, Tom and Joanna, are living at CHOP, trading places between Hopewell and the hospital, so that one parent is at home with Tommy's four year old brother, Matt. In spite of this life-changing event, the Belsky's have shown great strength, especially Tommy. His treatments are rigorous, consisting of five cycles of chemotherapy which last four to six weeks each, and then receiving multiple doses of antibiotics and numerous blood transfusions, since the chemo destroys most of his blood cells. In spite of all of this, Tommy's enthusiasm for life, Power Rangers and the Yankees keeps him smiling, determined and hopeful.
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All About Tommy:
My name is Tommy. I am 5 years
old.
More about Tommy:
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Notes from Tommy
May 06, 2008 at 10:14 AM EDT
"Update from the Inside", by Tommy.
Hi to all my friends! My mom is helping me write to you. I really like reading your messages. I don't want you to forget me. :( I miss playing with my friends, school, my teacher, peanut ball, stuff like that. But I do like watching TV that I can't watch at home and getting treats. I got to paint pictures on my window. I painted flowers, rainbows, hearts, clouds, ocean. My mom and I are going to make a Yankee baseball shirt today. Bye. Love, Tommy
May 07, 2008 at 02:38 PM EDT
Hi Everybody. This is Tommy (and Mommy, but
just to tell her what to write just like that). I want to say "hi" to all my
friends at Hopewell Elementary. I saw the picture of you guys with hair just
like me. I think we all look funny! Today I had to clean my mouth with this
yucky stuff and I have to do it again and again for a thousand times!
Ugh!!!! I had to get my bandage changed too and I didn't like that. I have
an IV pole that my mom named "Buzz" ( because it is the blue and green color
of Buzz Light Year). I played with my Star Wars toys and watched Star Wars.
I had school on my room. The teacher did Mrs. Smith stuff with me. Hi Matty-Hi
Buddy I miss you. Mariano, it's almost your birthday I know!
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