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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.

 

 

All About Tommy:

My name is Tommy. I am 5 years old.
My favorite food is pears and the worst food is broccoli.
My favorite book is any baseball book.
My favorite movie is Power Rangers.
My favorite color is red.
My favorite song is "Pay Me My Money Down" by Bruce Sprinsteen.
I have 2 pets. Their names are Casey the dog and Spikey the fish.
I have 1 sibling. His name is Matthew.
Some things that scare me are needles and the pirate ride at Disney.
I like to play with my friends.
It makes me sad when people die.
Something I am very good at is baseball.
My favorite TV shows are Power Rangers- Jungle Fury.
My favorite candy is any kind.
When I grow up I want to be a Navy Guy.
Special people in my life are Mom, Dad, Matt, Mariano, Scott, Cole, Oma, Opa, Pop-pop, Bob, Lexie.
My favorite holiday is my birthday.
Something that makes me proud is helping my mom and my dad.
If I won the lottery, I would give the money to help people and buy a toy for myself.
If I could meet one person it would be Derek Jeter.
If I could go anywhere in the world, I would go to Pop-pop's beach house.

More about Tommy:

1. Favorite Power Ranger: Red Ranger
2. Favorite Star Wars character: Obi Wan Kanobi
3. Favorite Star Wars Ship: Obi Wan Kanobi's fighter space ship
4. I am learning the "ake" word family, math addition, doing my beginning sound word work book
5. I am eating "anything I want" ( yogurt, "toastarias", grilled cheese, teddy grams, pb&J, English muffins)
6. I think being in the hospital is like being in a hotel (just I can't go out)
7. What do I do all day? Different stuff. (school work, music, legos, watch TV, coloring, play star wars, make Mommy crazy, wash hands, practice Jedi light saber moves, stickers, get hooked up to "Buzz", boo the Red Socks)
8. Reading? Nahhh. (just when Mommy makes me)
9. Drinking? Yes, water. Because water is just like a bath for my blood. I have to drink lots of water if I'm not hooked up to "Buzz"
10. What's new? "I know my hair is falling out now b/c of the medicine. But it will grow back like Opa's did. We are going to put tattoos on like maybe the Yankees. Mommy gave me a picture of me when I was a baby with no hair and says I look so cute like that."

 

 
     
 

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!