Frankie is 8 years old and the definition of strength. He has an older brother, Vincent, who is 11, and together they are the heart of our family.
At just 4 months old, Frankie was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). This disease affects only about 1 in a million children and occurs when certain cells build up in the body, forming tumors and damaging tissue, bones, and organs.
Within a week of his diagnosis, we traveled to meet with two of the best specialists—one in Houston, Texas, and another at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. We were incredibly fortunate to learn that both doctors worked together on the Histiocytosis board, allowing us to stay closer to home and receive world-class care at CHOP—our home away from home.
When Frankie turned one, he began his first chemotherapy treatment, which lasted an entire year. After completing treatment, he was thriving. But at age four, the cancer returned and affected parts of his brain, requiring a much more aggressive treatment plan.
For six months, our family was separated as we did everything possible to support both Frankie and Vincent through this incredibly difficult time. At age five, Frankie reached a major milestone—he had his port removed and began homeschooling through Sparta. A moment we once feared might never come.
Today, Frankie is 8 years old and continues to fight with incredible courage. While he still faces challenges from the lasting effects of cancer, his spirit is unstoppable. He is a fighter with a personality that lights up every room he enters.
For the past five years, our family has turned our journey into purpose by creating the Frankie Boys Shootout (a lacrosse tournament) and the Frankie Boys Toy Drive. Through these efforts, we raise money to support the hospital and families facing battles like ours. Giving back has become something deeply meaningful to us—it’s our way of helping others feel a little less alone.