|
Roman Merlo Benefit Update
Dear Friends, Members & Sponsors,
On behalf of the Ladies Auxiliary and the Merlo family, please accept my sincere thanks for your help and generosity
in making the Roman Merlo Benefit Softball Game, Picnic & Gift Auction a tremendous success. We were able to raise
over $10,000 for the family because of the kindness of special friends like all of you.
My heartfelt thanks go out to the members of the Ladies Auxiliary, Men's Auxiliary and VFW Post 4715 that gave so much
of their time to make this event a spectacular one. It is always nice to see everyone working hand-in-hand for the greater
good of our community. This organization is very lucky to have all of you as members.
Thank you all again from the bottom of my heart.
Lucia Parker
President
Benefit Pictures
Donations for Roman can still be made. Even though the Benefit has passed, if anyone would like to make
a donation to Roman, please send them to: VFW Post 4715 Ladies Auxiliary, 603 St Louis Avenue, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
08742 or contact Lucia at 732-295-8461.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support of Roman and his family.
Dear Friends,
On Sunday, September 16, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. the Ladies Auxiliary will be hosting a fun-filled day to benefit
Roman Merlo, a 3 1/2 year old little boy suffering from Ewing's sarcoma--a rare and agressive bone cancer.
Come out and support the VFW All Stars as they take on the 105.7 FM The Hawk All Stars in a benefit Softball
Game at the Point Pleasant Little League Complex located on Saint Louis Avenue. Your donation of $10 will include the
softball game and a picnic immediately following the game. Entertainment, games, giveaways, and a silent auction will
also be held at the picnic. All proceeds raised will benefit the Merlo family's medical and living expenses.
I know I can count on our community to support this worthwhile cause for a special little boy.
Thank you.
Lucia Parker
President
Please read a little about Roman below................
Roman Merlo and Ewing's sacoma
Roman is a three-year old resident of Brick, NJ. He was born on March 23, 2004, to parents Susan Mazura
and David Merlo. However, this March just three weeks shy of his third birthday, he was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma,
an agressive and rare form of bone cancer. What makes it more unusual is that this form of cancer is generally
found in children age 8 to adolescence! This makes Roman very young to be diagnosed with this already rare form of malignancy.
Additionally, this form of cancer is usually found in the lower extremities such as the thigh bone and hips. In most
cases, the disease is diagnosed after it has already spread to the child's organs, usually the lungs. Roman had been
lucky because it was found before it had metastasized and found in a bone that could be removed completely; his left shoulder
blade. Roman has already undergone nine cycles of chemotherapy and on July 3, 2007, he had his entire left shoulder
blade and the joint removed. The chemotherapy he receives is given in 10 day increments between rounds; he is the first
to have this treatment protocol. It is an agressive treatment protocol developed by Dr. Wormer, a world-renowned sarcoma
specialist of the Children's Hospital of Philadephia. Roman has yet to receive five more cycles of chemotherapy--the
last one will be the first week of October 2007. Thereafter, he has to return to Children's Hospital of Philadephia
each month for the first year; every three months the second year; every six months the third year; then once a year thereafter.
There is a protocol of tests he will receive during these upcoming years which will include blood tests, Mires, CAT scans,
bone scans, and x-rays.
He is a very tough little boy and has been through a lot these last four months of life.
If this cancer reoccurs, there is little or no hope of survival.
|
