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Boy & Girl of the Year
Michigan Chapter's Boy & Girl of the Year
The Boy & Girl of the Year are local children battling blood cancers who serve as motivation and inspiration to Man & Woman of the Year candidates in their competition to raise funds and win the titles.
Boy of the Year
Vinnie Perna
Age 10
Diagnosis: Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
Status: In Remission
The summer 2007 was a normal one for 6-year old Vinnie. And then one day in August, Vinnie wasn't feeling so good. Tired and complaining that his legs hurt him, Vinnie's parents thought he simply had growing pains. By the end of the week Vinnie was in the emergency room - his spleen and liver were twice the size they should be.
By the end of that day Vinnie was diagnosed with leukemia.
Vinnie's parents had to tell their 6-year old son that he had cancer, a conversation that no parent should ever have to have with their child. Even more disheartening, they had to tell him what cancer was in the first place. But one thing was for certain: Vinnie was valiant.
Within 24 hours of diagnosis, Vinnie began treatment that would last for 3 ½ years.
He handled the ups and downs with bravery and humor. This year will be the first since kindergarten that Vinnie will not be in treatment.
The good news is that he is done with treatment and has a bright future ahead of him. He goes back to the cancer center bi-monthly for a check-up and blood work. Vinnie is back to attending school full time and playing every sport he can possibly fit into his schedule.
When people ask Vinnie what he wants to be when he grows up, he has a different answer every month. When his parents think about what Vinnie wants to be when he grows up, their hopes are very simple. "We want him to be a grown up." Vinnie and every other child fighting a blood cancer deserve that!
Girl of the Year
Sydney Ann Balzer
Age 7
Diagnosis: Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
Status: Maintenance Chemotherapy until 2013
In September 2010, Sydney started 1st grade. She was tired the first couple of weeks, so her parents assumed it was due to getting back in the swing of things. Then one day they received a call from her music teacher. Sydney's coloring looked bad. The next day, her mom took her to her pediatrician's office. It appeared as though Sydney was a little anemic; more extensive blood tests were then ordered.
Within the hour they were told that Sydney's blood counts were not right; she needed to see a hematologist. Sydney was taken directly to Children's Hospital. Later that evening, Sydney was diagonosed with leukemia.
Six-year old Sydney's life changed forever that evening.
She began treatment. Two weeks later, Sydney went into clinical remission, but that didn't mean that treatments ended. She had 3 years of "maintenance" chemotherapy ahead of her.
Sydney has lost her hair twice, spent many days and nights in the hospital and missed months of school. "She is the bravest little lady we know!" says mom, Stacy. "She has never let this get her down. She always has a smile on her face and loves spending time with her friends and family."
Sydney has a new "normal" life. She is back to attending school, playing soccer and taking gymnastics. She is preparing to do a lot of cartwheels when the cure for blood cancers is found!
