Anthony was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 2. After chemo and treatment, he was in remission for 4½ years. He then relapsed. More chemo and treatment. He was in remission again for 2½ years. He relapsed AGAIN. No more treatment was available. The only thing doctors could try was a Bone Marrow Transplant. Michael, Anthony's older brother, was a perfect
match and the Bone Marrow Transplant was performed. Sadly, Anthony's body rejected the marrow and
he died shortly after... Just 2 months before his 13th birthday.
Who is Anthony?
written by our Founder Alexandra Bakker
As most people know, I am originally from Brazil but I have been living in the
U.S. since 1996.
Back in August of 1987, I lived in Medford, Massachusetts as an exchange student for 1 year. I was 17 years old. I was placed in a home of an American family, but 4 months later, it didn't work out, we were just not getting along.
The exchange program could not find another family for me in Medford, but after a while they found one... In Buffalo, NY!
Oh no!! I DID NOT want to go!!!! I already had friends in school, loved the city, even had a boyfriend!
Well, there was this lady working at the ESL (English as Second Language) office at my High
School. Marlene was the sweetest person... Every time I was upset, every time I was homesick, she would offer her shoulder, her kind words...
She did this for all foreign students!
Guess what? I ended up moving to her house in January of 1988! Marlene had 3
sons. John, (age 7 at the time), Michael, (age 16 at the time) and her middle son, Anthony, had passed away, losing his battle to leukemia, in September of 1986, so I never had a chance to meet him.
Anthony had been fighting the "Cancer Monster" since he was 2 years old. I lived with Marlene for 7 months, until it was time for me to go back to Brazil. She was the BEST American MOM to me, and we became great friends!!! We used to sit at the kitchen table and talk like two teenagers
until 4, 5am!!! And the boys were the best brothers.
Michael had a band and I was always watching him practice in the basement.
He's the owner of the most beautiful voice. Michael still sings and one day he WILL BE FAMOUS!!! Check Mike's website at
www.mikepreviti.com.
John shared his bedroom with me. We would play Nintendo and he would even say in school that he had 2 brothers AND A
SISTER!!!
I was able to see and feel a little bit of how hard it is to lose a child and live day by day with grief. I'm glad that I was there to give Marlene some support and be her daughter for a while (until today she still says that I'm her daughter :o) !!). When I was homesick, she was there for me, and when she cried because of Anthony, I was there for her! You know, boys don't sit at the kitchen table to "chit chat", so I bet she enjoyed having a daughter!! I never got to meet Anthony, but sometimes it seems like I did, with all that I heard about him and seeing his pictures around the
house.
Until today, 20 years later, Marlene and I still talk over the phone. I have been
to Medford several times to visit and see how the boys have grown!!
So with all my love to Marlene, John and Michael, I dedicate this website to
"Angel" Anthony!!!
Thanks for reading this story,
Alexandra Bakker
Somewhere Out There
Somewhere out there
Beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me
And loving me tonight
Somewhere out there
Someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another
In that big somewhere out there
And even though I know
How very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star
And when the night wind
Starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping
Underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there
If love can see us through
Then we'll be together
Somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
And even though I know
How very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing
on the same bright star
And when the night wind
Starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping
Underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there
If love can see us through
Then we'll be together
Somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true...
