By Bill Tomison, with reporting by Steve Nielsen
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — As a 4-year-old Pawtucket boy battles T-cell leukemia, he’s getting a big emotional boost from a charity of police officers.
Sebastian Calado was diagnosed with the disease back in July, and has spent many nights in the hospital. Tuesday, Cops for Kids with Cancer, based in Braintree, Mass., threw him a party at Pawtucket City Hall to help him in his fight.
In between cake and gifts at the Municipal Court Room, the charity group donated $5,000 to the family.
Michelle Calado, Sebastian’s mother, said the cash is a huge blessing, as she tries to keep Sebastian in good spirits as well as be a mother to her other two sons. Her husband still works, but Michelle said she’s had to take a lot of time off work herself from her job at Rhode Island Hospital.
Cops for Kids with Cancer started by donating to the oncology units at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, but has branched out to giving individual families financial assistance. For example, some treatments are not covered by insurance. Furthermore, the costs of going to the city — be it Providence or Boston — can rack up quickly in parking fees, gas and food for families that find themselves on the financial brink.
You can donate and find out more at their web site, www.copsforkidswithcancer.org