Young man’s battle with cancer inspires blood drive at St. Gerard’s

By Mary Ann Price

Less than two years ago, Ryan Hathaway was a freshman at Xaverian Brothers High School, making new friends and enjoying his classes. But as the winter of 2009 turned into spring, he began to complain of fatigue, bruises and pain in his bones. Ryan’s mom, Katey Hathaway, took him to his pediatrician, who diagnosed him with growing pains.

The pain continued, especially in his back and legs. When Ryan found it difficult to walk, his mother took him back to the pediatrician, who drew blood for testing. The results revealed a platelet count that had reached dangerously low levels. Ryan was sent to Children’s Hospital in Boston, where he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which is a cancer of the white blood cells.

Ryan was forced to stop attending school in order to focus on his recovery. Soon after, he began a difficult regimen of chemotherapy sessions.

“Initially the treatment is grueling,” said his mother. A nurse at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, she administered the chemo to her son once a week through his portacath. He went to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute every three weeks for other medications that he could not receive at home.

In the fall of 2009, Ryan enrolled at Canton High School, but missed his sophomore year due to his illness. Instead, he completed the coursework at home using a computer-based program. Now 17, he began attending classes at Canton High in the fall of 2010. But around Thanksgiving, he was diagnosed with a fractured hip. He has been at home since, using a wheelchair. During the first week of this year, he was running a fever and showing possible flu symptoms. His parents took him to Children’s Hospital every day.

“The school has just been so great, especially the nurse and the guidance department,” said Katey. “They’re all trying to figure out a way to get him back in school.”

For Ryan and his parents, Katey and Mark, his sister, Caitlyn, and his brother, Daniel, the last two years have had ups and downs. “It’s discouraging (his) being out of school,” said Katey. “He loves to take as many honors class as he can fit in his schedule. He loves to hang out with his friends.”

Ryan’s days now are filled with taking medications, seeing his doctors, going to physical therapy, and doing schoolwork.

On the positive side, he has been in remission since he finished the first 30 days of his treatment, and his parents are confident that he will be told that he is cured when he finishes the treatment in May of this year.

“We get a lot of support from each other,” Katey said. “(Mark and I) both have a lot of siblings. We get a lot of support from them, from friends, from neighbors, from the school. The community has reached out to us.”

To give back, the Hathaway family is sponsoring a blood drive at St. Gerard Majella Church next Friday, January 21, from 1 to 6 p.m.

“I know a lot of parents who have done blood drives in their communities,” Katey said. “Blood and platelets are used in kids with different cancers.”

Ten people an hour will be able to donate blood. To sign up for a time, please call Katey Hathaway at 781-828-3841.

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