Anthony: Year-Round Spirit of Giving
At the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, we’re inspired by the unique perspective and giving hearts that childhood brain tumor survivors have. Learn more about how you can give back on November 27, 2018 for Giving Tuesday to help these incredible kids thrive.
At only 4 years old, Anthony M. is making a big impact and has big dreams. Diagnosed with a choroid plexus papilloma brain tumor when he was only 5 months old, Anthony is now tumor free.
His mom Sarah believes that his own struggles make him empathetic to others. “He has been around a lot of doctors, nurses, therapists, and specialists, and we think it has molded him to have a unique compassion for others who need some extra cheer.”
According to Sarah, Anthony has always been an extremely happy and smiley child. The change in his personality is what alerted his parents to the idea that he was suffering and “his continued inability to smile forced us to become fierce advocates, which led to his diagnosis,” says Sarah.
Now tumor free and back to his happy, smiley self, Anthony’s outlook on life gives hope to those who love him and carries them through the particularly difficult moments of survivorship.
“It’s his outlook on life despite his struggles that makes Anthony’s ability to raise awareness so easy,” says Sarah. “He sincerely likes to help people and gets really engaged in doing community activities that involve giving back to or helping those in need.”
Anthony and his family capture the spirit of Giving Tuesday all year round and use his personal story to give back to the pediatric brain tumor community. For Giving Tuesday 2017, they used the power of social media and Facebook fundraising to raise more than $1,000 in one day for kids with brain tumors.
In addition, Anthony raises awareness through an annual fundraiser called Bags of Hope that he helps execute on his craniversary. He has also helped homeless veterans, children with limited food resources and families in his local hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit. Anthony’s most recent community involvement was to collect 450 toys for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Toy Closet.
Anthony was recognized as a Hawk Hero by his elementary school for his Bags of Hope project and received the Mayor’s Youth Award for outstanding community involvement in his town of Milford, CT.
When Anthony grows up, he wants to be a doctor or a police officer to “help people feel better and keep them safe.”
“As a family, it’s Anthony’s survivorship that encourages us to help build awareness and push for research so other kids can have a chance like Anthony did,” says Sarah.
When you support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation on Giving Tuesday, you help children like Anthony achieve their dreams. Starting at 8am ET/5am PT on Nov. 27, Facebook and PayPal will match up to $7 million of funds donated on Facebook for U.S. nonprofits, making this a global day of giving with long-term impact.
