i Caleb's family seeks help
Caleb's family seeks help
BY MECHELE COOPER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 03/01/2009

A 7-year-old diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and given two to six months to live only has one hope.

Caleb Crosby needs experimental treatment at a clinic in Houston.

His mom, Amanda Crosby, said the treatment costs about $100,000 and is not covered by insurance.

The family has turned to the community for help. They have organized fundraisers, the most recent a benefit breakfast at the Ninety Nine Restaurant in Augusta.

"Most children have more time ... he was diagnosed New Years Eve officially and they basically sent us home," Crosby said. "Two days later, we were rushing him back to the hospital because he was having trouble swallowing; he couldn't walk at all."

The family, including Caleb's stepfather, Daniel Crosby -- who is divorced from Amanda Crosby -- and his partner, Patti Bureau, both of Augusta, are trying desperately to raise the funds needed for the treatment.

Daniel Crosby, a construction worker employed by Peachey Builders in Augusta, said they raised $2,800 at the breakfast, and that didn't include money from the tickets that were sold.

"We were overwhelmed on Sunday," Bureau said. "The amount of people and the generosity of those who came to his breakfast and donated was just amazing, especially in the recession we're in. I don't know how many times I cried Sunday."

Caleb's step-grandmother, Jeanne Small, of Jay, attended the breakfast. She said the family is doing a wonderful job raising the funds.

"The place was just packed," Small said. "It was fantastic. It's just great that people would do this."

The family plans to hold a spaghetti dinner and auction sometime in March or April.

Staff and students at Winslow Elementary School, where Caleb attends second grade, have raised $7,300 through community collections and fundraisers.

Tina Couturier, Winslow Elementary School social worker who is heading up that effort, said Caleb is a wonderful little boy who is well liked.

"We think about him all the time," Couturier said. "What's been incredible has been the outpouring of love and generosity from this whole community. It's pretty overwhelming. It's brought people together in the best interest of Caleb to try and extend his life as long as possible."

Bureau said they have enough money for Caleb's initial consultation at the clinic and to have a small pump surgically planted under the skin to administer medication, which will cost between $18,000 and $20,000.

"Caleb is an absolute sweetheart," Bureau said. "His spirit is about as high as an eagle can fly. He's not concerned for himself. He's concerned for everybody else. For a 7-year-old boy, that's amazing."

Make-A-Wish trip

Caleb traveled to Florida this week with his mom and his oldest brother Jacob, 10, for his Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World and SeaWorld to see Shamu, the trained killer whale.

Lisa Gleeson, of Make-A-Wish Foundation, said Caleb had originally wished for 500 puppies.

Ed Moran, a Make-A-Wish volunteer, said on the day of his departure for Florida, Caleb was awake at 3:30 a.m.

"No need to wake him up early, he was ready to go," Moran said. "When the family got out the driveway to catch their ride, Caleb said, 'This is not a van', speaking of the stretch limo parked in his driveway. He loved the ride to Portland feeling like a celebrity. I presented Caleb with the meet-and-greet-Shamu certificate at the Jetport and I have never seen a bigger smile."

Daniel Crosby said he first noticed Caleb having difficulty with his vision two weeks before doctors found the tumor. The child couldn't focus and was off balance. Crosby said he couldn't go upstairs by himself.

"It got so bad, they had to have the radiation right away," Crosby said. "He couldn't function or stand up on his own."

Bureau said the unconventional treatment is the only hope they have right now.

Doctors put Caleb on steroids to keep his strength up, which caused his body to swell. Bureau said the swelling has changed his appearance. Caleb doesn't look like the same little boy.

"If it's just a 1 percent chance, it's better than what we have right now," Bureau said. "There's one little girl who had treatment at the Bruzinsky Clinic when she was 6 months old and had the same tumor Cal has, and she's 9 now.

"When you hear something like that you've got to take a chance. If people can't donate, pray for him."

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com

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