|
Funds raised to help ‘Little Joe’ |
|
Monday, 01 December 2008 |
By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — The third-grade student at East Elementary leans back in his chair and laughs as he remembers a funny thing that happened in his math class earlier that day.
Joe Fargo, 8, was recently diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.The son of Danielle and Joseph Fargo, of St. Marys, was diagnosed with ALL, a blood cancer that affects the bone marrow on Oct. 27.
“He understood,” Danielle Fargo said of the day Joe, known as “Little Joe” to his family, was diagnosed. “He got a little upset, but he was able to ask his doctors questions about it and they answered him directly.”
Joe’s grandfather is his physician at the Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, where Joe goes once a week to have tests conducted and to undergo chemotherapy. Danielle Fargo said Joe’s physicians performed blood tests and checked his bone marrow to make sure it really was leukemia.
“He’s done so well with it,” Danielle Fargo said. “He went to school every day and he hasn’t had much to make him think about it that much.”
Joe is scheduled to undergo chemotherapy, which he began in October, for the next three years and so far he has had two bone marrow aspirations — tests to look for abnormal cells in the bone marrow — and five spinal taps to check for leukemic cells in the spinal fluid. His mother said Joe will soon begin steroid treatment, as well.
The Fargos own Trackside Pizza, 928 E. Spring St., and Joe has four older brothers — Justin, 14, Jordan, 12, Tyler, 11, and Ryan, 9.
“The other boys have accepted it really well,” Danielle Fargo said.
East and West Elementary schools recently held week-long drive for Pennies for Patients, which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Joe’s honor. The society helps to find a cure for leukemia and helps raise money in honor of children who are battling the effects of blood cancer.
“I think we raised a lot of money,” Joe said.
East Elementary students and staff raised $1,450.56 in addition to a $250 donation from Minster Bank for a total of $1700.46. West raised $588.30 to be donated to Pennies for Patients.
Danielle Fargo said the family had learned of Pennies for Patients from when her other boys were in school. She estimated Joe’s medical bills will total approximately $250,000. Anyone wishing to donate to the Fargos can contribute at any First Financial Bank branch under the name “For the benefit of Joe Fargo IV.”
Joe, who is in Chris Mastin’s class at East, said his favorite subject in school is mathematics, adding that he has been learning graphs, surveys and data in his math class. He said he also likes to read, draw and play video games, adding that his favorite video game is Super Smash Bros. Melee and he also is a Pokemon fan. “Jigglypuff,” Joe said was his favorite Pokemon character.
He said his favorite food is chicken — from chicken nuggets to fried chicken, and he has played T-ball for Luegers Insurance. Joe said his joints have hurt as a side effect of his leukemia treatments.
“I fall more. I think the dizziness is going to affect my skating,” Joe said, referencing his roller skating in gym class.
Approximately 5,430 people in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with ALL in 2008, and it is the most common type of leukemia in children younger than 15, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Most children with ALL are cured of their disease after undergoing treatment.
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 December 2008 )
|
