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A8-The Canadian Champion, Wednesday, October 8, 2008 I47nurwr re. (905) 878-28811 SBlood drive organized for teen with leukemia By Stephanie Hounseli CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Onthe outside, Ann Occhiuzzi is doing her best to go about ber normal hife. But inside, well, thats a different story. lt's there that shes experencing the gut- wrenchmng pain of a mother with a child whose future is uncertain. He's sick, and she cant do a tbing about it. 1'm trying to, keep it together," she said. "(But) 1 keep thinking, 'When is this might- mare going to, end?' and 'Why my child?"' Just two months ago her 17-year-old son, Greg, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. "No matter what i do, i cant make bîm better. That helplessness is a horrible feel- ing," she said. On Thursday, Oct. 16, Miltonians wiii have a chance to heip Greg anid other', like him by taking part in a biood drive hemrg belci in bis honour from 130 to 8 p.mn. ai the Milton Sports Centre. ô05 Santa Maria 1l31\i * lis recommnendcd people ftîst book an * appoînîment xx oh Lanadian Biood Serv ices. Greg xiii need lois of hiood whicn lic has a stemn ce11 transplant next niopth. T he pro- cedure xiii sec bis diseased bonie marruw replaced with hcalthy stem ceils from bis il - year-old brother, Jonathan, who's a perfect match. At the hlood drive, people wiii also he able to find out more about the OneMatch Stem Celi and Marrow Network registry, which facilitates stem ceil matches. Its where Greg would have tumed had Jonathan not been a match. Its not often that a boy gets to, be a hero to bis big brother. "Hes bappy to be able to, heip bis brother, * but hes scared," Occbiuzzi said. "Its a buge ioad for an i1-year-old. " Jonathan is afraid if the transplant doesn't work, itll be bis fault, she added. Althougb tbe familys relieved Jonathan is a match, they're far from breatbing easy. "lis not a guaranîee's going to live. He stil bas a bell of a figbt abead of him," bis mom said. She explained Greg will he in the bospital for six to eigbt weeks, first receiving an intense form of cbemotberapy to kili tbe cancer, and then having the stem ccli trans- Pla!ey,îî ail be holding their breatb as they watt to see if Greg's body will accept the new ceils. The past couple of montbs have seen Greg's lîfe turncd upside down. Whben hc first developed a flu-like sick- ness, bis famiy didn't think it was anythîng rest and cbicken noodle soup couidn't hix. But then came the excruciating headaches. Wbecn lumps the size of golf halls formed on bis legs, tbey knew something was very wrong and rusbed Greg to the bospital. In hindsigbt, bis mother and stepfather realize the shakes, weakness and bot and cold flashes were ail syrnptoms of the cancer that was invading Greg's body Greg was diagnosed with advanced chronmc myclogenous leukernîa, a cancer tif the whitc hlood celis in wbic aainonnal chromnosomîe, the Philadeiphia clhrtinosunic, foîrces the body to make loti rnaiîy white blocîd celli'. The bhocl drive is largeix uihi baiîchild cof Grcgs stc'fitiîr, Zack Sarmux, wxx'huî tîd- nl i st iclîx hxiile ("rog facoci thc latileofti bis fice. -lVii hing iotali\ aggrcssix c xithîiii. Sariîix'said. 'sViîciîit uitsliîoiîo ic socho-,-,, crcucial cionatiiig lood Y is. Ilic aid tic cuiîiiîuîiiix las hiomi x or suppuî txiiiclcldiiig local hcisincsss 111 teeni grateftmi for support Greg. who linislcd (GraceiIl ast x'ear ai F.C. Drur>, said bes grateful tii Sariuîv for more than urgantzing the hlood drive. 'Ho", an cxtraordinary guy,- Greg said. -He's donc a lot for me." The support f rîm Miltcînîans - as well as that of friends t'rom biis former ciîy tif Brampton - bas also been hearîcnmng, Greg said. "It makes you feel like 'You're gonna be al rigbt, buddy"' The family is boping the hiood dnive wil help spread awareness about the importance of donating, and also about leukemia in gen- eral. And, of course, they hope to, give a huge hoost to Canadian Blood Services' hlood batik. Occhiuzzi bas ber good days and ber bad days. For now, shes focusing on the upcom- ing hlood drive and being strong for ber fam- ily, whîcb also includes Greg's older sister, Jessica. Rer message to, the community is simple: "Donate blood because you're saving a life." To schedule an appointment, cati 1-888- 2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283). Stephanie Hounseil can be reacbed at sthiessen@mPtiltoncanadianchampion.com. r,' GRAHAM PAINE / CANADIAN CHAMPION BROTHERLY LOVE: Jonathan Occhiuzzi, 11, will donate some of his stem cells next month to his aider brother Greg, 17, who has leukemia. - - -m-m m I Going away this fali? Plan your pet's retreat as wel! O FREE PE iERAT DAY 0F BASIC BOARDING 905-33-0333 WITH A BOOKING 0F 3 OR MORE DAYS www.escarpmentpetretreat.ca 6449 Guelph Line, Burlington, ON m-m --m--- m- VV IllM1MI CUPOUN Some Conditions Apply Expires December 31, 2008 - - - -m-m m - -m - - - m - m m -m 0 - - -.- à