BERKELEY – September was named Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, because as sad as this subject is, it needs to be in the public eye.
“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the entire family is impacted,” Mayor John Bacchione said, while reading the proclamation about naming the month. He said the township’s heart is with the families going through trying times, and that this is a tribute to the health care and support system for children.
Emiliana and Caitlyn O’Brien, photographed before the older sister was diagnosed. (Photo courtesy O’Brien Family)
The proclamation was given to the O’Brien family, who know too well about childhood cancer.
Janet O’Brien’s daughter, Emiliana Rose, passed away in 2015 at just 13 years of age. She had been fighting osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer.
Emiliana had some medical complaints in January of that year, but they had been called tendonitis and other things until the diagnosis finally came a few months later. Doctors fought hard with radiation and chemotherapy, and Emiliana fought harder, never giving up hope. She earned her wings on December 1. All of this happened in the course of one year.
Mayor John Bacchione presented the O’Brien family with a proclamation naming September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. (Photo by Chris Lundy)
O’Brien has said that Emiliana would ask “Why doesn’t anyone know anything about my cancer?”
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages one to 14, according to the American Cancer Society. Accidents are number one. Yet, cancer research specialized for children is not as common.
“We didn’t know these facts until it affected our families,” she has said.
That’s why they have been working to spread the word about these illnesses. She leads a nonprofit called Emiliana’s Hope, which has raised more than $90,000 for osteosarcoma research.
Bacchione read a proclamation naming September 17, 2024, as “Emiliana O’Brien Day.”
In naming September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, he encouraged businesses to put gold ribbons in their windows – the symbol for this group of horrible illnesses. Large ribbons were installed in front of town hall.
Visit EmilianasHope.com for more information. Their online fundraising is at gofundme.com/emiliana-shope
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