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General News: Fundraiser for Young Cancer Patient
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| Devin surrounded by her sports trophies and countless stuffed animals and pillow pets. |
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| Teammates from CYO and Rec teams signed team balls that Devin now treasures. |
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| The Dineen family: Devin Dineen, with her parents, Michael and Jeannemarie. |
February 09, 2011
By Ross Miller
Friends of Devin Dineen, a charming 10-year-old fifth-grader who has been diagnosed with leukemia, are hosting a sumptuous pancake breakfast to be held at the St. Thomas of Canterbury this Sunday to benefit the Dineen family.
Last December, Devin learned that she has what is called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a prevalent form of bone marrow cancer. Following periods of hospitalization over the past few months, Devin now travels to the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla once a week to receive chemotherapy treatment. The prognosis for children 10 and under with the disease is especially promising.
Her parents, Michael, a registered nurse at Westchester Medical Center, and Jeannemarie, who is a homemaker, care for Devin and her brothers, Brendan and Owen, and her sister, Fiona. They explain that the treatment program will continue for a minimum of two years, noting that Devin is holding up well. Given Devin’s past involvement in a number of sports, including soccer, softball, and basketball, her strength of spirit is hardly surprising. While sports are on hold for now, Devin still travels outside of her home, but must take steps to avoid infection, especially after her chemotherapy sessions.
Devin and her parents were especially pleased to learn that her fifth-grade teachers at CCMS were authorized to serve as her tutors during her time at home. Her parents also decided to let Devin have a cell phone a few years early so that she could communicate with her friends, frequently by texting. And they’re planning to arrange for Skype communications this spring between Devin and her fellow fifth-graders.
The family has been genuinely moved by the community’s outreach to them in their time of need. Several families have brought meals and other treats, and many have provided gas debit cards to assist with the near 100-mile round trip travel to Children’s Hospital. Her mother was proud to acknowledge that Devin has been appointed to a special board to help plan and oversee a springtime walk-a-thon for children with cancer. She has been registered with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and she hopes to regularly attend a weekly support group for cancer patients and siblings through Gilda’s Club (after Gilda Radner), located in White Plains.
Numerous businesses and organizations have contributed generously to this Sunday’s fundraiser, according to Deb Dulaney, who is the leader of Devin’s Girl Scout Troop 459 in Cornwall. Deb and Katherine Bacher, Paula Argenio, Liz Youngs and Joan Garcia have solicited contributions from Leo’s Restaurant, 2 Alices, Prima Pizza, Hudson Street Café, Jones Farm, Village Pizza, Cornwall Farms and Royal Foods, and Deb especially wanted to thank Fr. Bernard Heter and Fr. Dennis Dinan for agreeing to host the event in St. Thomas gym.
As Devin will attend this Sunday’s event—her father commented she would never pass up an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast—it won’t be surprising if she gets antsy to make a few jump shots and lay-ups in between her helpings of hotcakes.
The benefit pancake breakfast will be held this Sunday, February 13, from 8:00 am till noon in the St. Thomas school gymnasium. Everyone is invited, and suggested donations are $7/adult and $5/child. All proceeds go to benefit Devin’s family.
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