When 11-year-old Johnny Brish first heard his best friend, Brandon Gentry, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), he didn’t just sit back and wallow in his sorrows ? he jumped into action to help his buddy.
The Lakeville Elementary fifth-grader organized a bottle drive in the Oxford Lakes Subdivision on June 1 to raise funds for Gentry’s medicine and gas cards for his mother, Jennifer, to drive down to Children’s Hospital in Detroit every week.
‘I wanted to do it because he shouldn’t have to go through this,? Brish said. ‘Not a whole lot of people can probably afford the chemo and stuff.?
Brish’s other friend, Austin Roberts, and sister, Emma Giolitti, also helped him with the bottle drive, which netted a total of $274.
ALL is a fast-growing cancer of the white blood cells where the bone marrow creates unformed abnormal cells that do not develop and cannot fight infections.
The number of abnormal cells (or leukemia cells) grows quickly and crowds out the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets the body needs.
Gentry was diagnosed May 22 after having severe headaches and muscle pain all over his body. After the bloodwork and other tests came back positive for leukemia, he was immediately transferred to Children’s Hospital in Detroit to begin chemotherapy.
Now, the 12-year-old undergoes a chemo regimen at home every day and at the hospital every Friday. He will have to do this for the next three years.
‘He’s a good little fighter, but it does wear him down,? said Jennifer. ‘Like any other cancer patient, they have their good days and their bad days.?
For the Gentry family, Brandon’s diagnosis has spurred an entire change of lifestyle ? from the food they eat, to where he can go.
Because she must look after her son 24-7, Jennifer had to quit her job, which has hurt her financially.
When she heard of Brish’s fund-raiser, as well as other donations she received from staff and families at the school, she was moved to tears.
Her son’s teacher, Deanna Marginet, volunteers to homeschool him twice a week and has donated her summer time to tutor him.
‘They have been wonderful,? she said. ‘They’ve been a Godsend.?
Brish hopes to be able to play video games and basketball with Brandon again. He misses getting to hang out with his ‘mellow, nice? friend.
As for all the praise he’s received for his honorable act, Brish keeps a humble attitude.
‘I don’t think I’m being a role model as much as just helping Brandon and be a good friend,? he said.
For those interested in donating to the Gentrys, a special B’s Healing Fund for Brandon has been set up at the Oxford Bank.