ANDREW O'BRYAN

On June11, 2010, I was diagnosed w/ Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) stage 2b.  The tumor was in my left leg from my knee down.  My life as a 12 year old boy changed forever.  I have been receiving chemotherapy at Upstate Hospital 2-3 weeks each month since diagnosis.  I am inpatient for all my treatments.  On September8, 2010, I had rotationplasty surgery to remove the tumor.  It is a very unique surgery.  The doctors amputate the leg and remove the cancerous parts and reattach the leg so that the knee is my foot, giving me a natural knee joint.  But on September10, 2010, I had an emergency amputation due to vascular issues.  I have an above the knee amputation of my left leg.  I also had an infection in my stump in October, which put me in the hospital for 3 weeks. On March 30, 2011, I had a revision of the stump to shave the bone down further as it was growing too fast.  I have a prosthetic leg.  I haven't been able to use it yet.

I am still receiving chemotherapy.  I will be done in May.  The doctors, nurses, and support system at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital are wonderful.  We are so blessed to have such an amazing facility near our home.  We WILL Either Find A Way Or Make One!

CONNOR LICAMELE

Connor was by all measures a normal and seemingly healthy 4 year old boy.  He loves to sing and dance.  He Loves his pre-school class at St. Rose and he is active all the time!  Oh, and he loves his Ben 10 Alien Force!!!

During the last week of November 2010, Connor came home from school and was complaining of a belly-ache.  He was up almost all night with it, and in the morning he began throwing up a few times -- then started to feel slightly better.  He continued to be off for the next couple days and had a fever consistently of about 101.  I could not get him to eat or drink so I proceeded to call his pediatrician and said that I thought that Connor might be dehydrated, he told me to take him to the ER and that he would probably receive some fluids and we would go home!  I had no idea that by taking him there, our lives would change forever.

Connor was admitted because his white blood count was high; they thought pneumonia, appendicitis, even a bowl obstruction?  It wasn't until a CT Scan that they found a mass on his left kidney -- on Friday, December 3, 2010, we were told that they would remove the kidney and that it was very likely that the mass was a cancerous tumor.  On Tuesday, December 7, 2010, Connor had surgery to remove the left kidney -- while standing next to Connor in recovery we were told that Connors tumor was cancerous . . . A Wilms Tumor!

Connor is currently finishing his chemo at Upstate Hospital in Syracuse and is awaiting his upcoming scans in hopes that this "Cancer" will be gone!

TIM CONNERS

On April 3^rd, 2010, at the age of 15, as a high school freshman in Fulton, I was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  My somewhat ‘normal’ teenage life with school and athletics changed forever.  I began one of the protocol treatments with a series of chemotherapies for this childhood cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital. 

In mid-July, I relapsed and lost my vision in both eyes.  I spent two weeks at Golisano adjusting and processing what was occurring in my life.  In September, I traveled to Boston Children’s Hospital where I underwent a bone marrow transplant and my older brother was my donor.  After months in the hospital and 2 weeks in ICU where I almost did not survive, I was transported back by ambulance to Golisano to begin my intense physical and occupational therapy.  With the support of my doctors and therapists at Golisano I achieved my goal and made it home for Christmas after 100 days in the hospital.  My doctors and support team at Golisano are truly my lifeline and it is a blessing to have them just 40 minutes from my front door. 

Currently, I am at home recovering and I am halfway through my year in isolation.  I still see my team at Golisano on a weekly basis at clinic.  I am also preparing for AP exams and regents.  I am working hard to walk again, learn braille, and learn daily living skills now that I am visually impaired for life.  Cancer may be tough but I am tougher!

SARAH HUFF

In December 2009, when I was a freshman at SUNY Oswego, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in my cerebellum, the part of your brain that controls balance and coordination.  When I first talked to a neuro surgeon he told me that the tumor didn’t look like cancer but I chose to have it removed anyways.  After having the tumor removed on February 1, 2010, I found out that my tumor was in fact a cancer called Medulloblastoma.  After hearing this upsetting news, I decided on a 14-month treatment plan to save my life.  Because Medulloblastoma is primarily a pediatric cancer, I am being treated at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, even though I was 18 years old when I was diagnosed.  The Doctors and Nurses there are fantastic and I feel very blessed to have such an amazing facility so close to my home.

MADDIE POYNTER

On June 20, 2009, our daughter Madeline was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric cancer called nephroblastoma or Wilms’ Tumor.  Maddie was 2.5 years old.  She was very sick when she arrived by ambulance at Upstate Medical University Hospital.  The tumor that had begun in her left kidney had metastasized into her lungs, her spleen, and traveled extensively throughout her abdomen via her vascular system.  The vast tentacles of tumors were cutting off Maddie’s circulation and threatening to take her life; the team of doctors assigned to care for her worked quickly to administer chemotherapy and other drugs to save her life.  After a full summer of chemotherapy to shrink the tumors enough to surgically remove them, it was determined that Maddie would go to Boston Children’s Hospital for her nephrectomy.  The tumor, which had traveled up and down her Vena Cava, had found its way into her heart.  A pediatric heart surgeon was needed to assist the general surgeon and vascular surgeon.  On October 8, 2009, Maddie endured 11 hours of surgery which included icing her body down to stop all heart/body function so that they tumor could be safely removed from her heart.  Unfortunately, Maddie’s one remaining kidney suffered acute renal failure and Maddie was rushed back into the OR the next morning for an emergency 9 hour surgery.  We spent 33 days at Children’s Hospital Boston; Maddie was in the ICU for two weeks and received dialysis daily.  All in all, she had a total of 24 hours of surgery while there.  She came home to CNY and Upstate’s care in November on TPN nutrition as her digestive system was severely distressed.  In early December, she began 3 weeks of radiation ending with her last session on Christmas Eve.  January 7, 2010, was the last day of chemotherapy for Maddie and despite many months of rehabilitation and questionable symptoms that indicated a possible relapse, she has been cancer-free ever since!  Today, Maddie is a normal 4-yr old girl who loves sledding, playgrounds, dancing, Star Wars and everything Pink!  She is signed up for T-ball this spring and will graduate Pre-K and move up to Kindergarten with her class…we are so proud of her!  And every day we are thankful for the amazingly talented and wonderfully caring doctors and nurses at Upstate Medical University Hospital/Golisano’s Childrens’ Hospital.

TAYLOR MATT

My name is Taylor Matt.  I'm seventeen years old.  I am a high school senior and I'm currently battling leukemia for the second time.  I was first diagnosed with leukemia when I was eleven, about to turn twelve.  I fought through it with confidence and the desire of just getting it all over with.  After being fully in remission for almost five years . . . I'm back. But now it's a completely different story.  There I was about to start my senior year looking forward to playing tennis, indoor track, and lacrosse.  Attending all the fun school functions with all the privilege that comes with being a senior and most of all graduating.  Last August about a week before my school year started my whole course for the year changed. I'm here, in the hospital, instead of in school, no school functions or sports for me.  Still looking forward to graduating . . . but it's just not the same.  To put it nicely, it bites the big one.  But I still look at it positively I know that I'll do well and make it through.  The environment at the hospital really helps with the long stays.  Hopefully I'll be done soon enough and my life will go back to "normal."  Until then I'll just have to make the best of it and take each day as it comes.  :)

NAOMI GLENISTER

In November of 2006, at the young age of 16, Naomi Glenister was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and treated at University Hospital.  She spent the next 2 years receiving chemotherapy, and endured over 40 trips to the operating room.  During this time she also spent 2 months in the intensive care unit in a drug induced coma due to infection and high fevers.  This led to months of occupational therapy, learning how to once again use her hands, move her arms and learn to walk.  Today, Naomi is 19 years old, cancer free and able to walk with some support.  In June of 2009, she graduated with her high school class at Sandy Creek as a member of the National Honor Society.  Naomi still has to make monthly visits to Golisano Children's Hospital but her story is one of courage and hope!

IN MEMORY OF . . .

CRAIG W. RIENHARDT

Craig was a 17 year old, honor roll student at West Genesee High School when he was diagnosed with a rare and incurable cancer called gastric adenocarcinoma.  He had been treated as an outpatient at Golisano Children's Hospital where he bravely underwent any treatment that we asked him to do.  Just six weeks after he was diagnosed, Craig passed away on January 12th, 2011. 

Craig enjoyed life and embraced it, always willing and ready to try new adventures.  He loved hard physical labor, taking pride in his work and loved working out with his friends, playing soccer, basketball and biking.  He enjoyed his music and sports, of which  he  was very knowledgeable. He ran a variety of races, such as "Paige’s Butterfly Run," the "Boilermaker" and the "Warrior Dash” just to name a few.   

Craig was the youngest of 4 children, a wonderful son, terrific brother and great nephew and cousin.  He had a quiet but wicked sense of humor.  He was always willing to help out and was a reliable person you could always count on.  He was a friend to all, which was evident from all the generous support we received during and after his illness. 

We are forever thankful for the wonderful support and care we have received from the doctors and nurses, the West Genesee School district; friends and family.  Craig is very much loved and missed; forever in our hearts . . .

BIANCA BRESADOLA

Bianca was a 7 year old girl from Liverpool, NY, who attended Chestnut Hill Elementary School.  She had many special traits which included having an identical twin sister named Mia.  As twins and best friends you would never find one sister without the other.  They enjoyed doing many of the same things together but Bianca’s favorites were camping, horseback riding, swimming, and riding her bike. Bianca was also very fond of animals and had a special love for dolphins.

On June 4, 2008, Bianca was diagnosed with osteosarcoma which is a rare type of bone cancer.  She began treatment at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse and later sought treatment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas.

After a short battle that included many treatments, Bianca passed away in her parents arms on December 3, 2008.

Bianca touched many people’s lives and left behind many everlasting memories. She also was able to achieve one of her dreams by visiting Discovery Cove in Orlando Florida and swimming with dolphins (thanks in part to the Make-A-Wish Foundation).  There were also many other people, business, and organizations that played an instrumental role in helping Bianca and the Bresadola’s through a most difficult time.  Although she is gone, Bianca will never be forgotten.