Dariel Peguero is an active and playful 3-year-old boy who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in July 2017.
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer, a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow – the spongy tissue bones where blood cells are made. This disease progress rapidly and creates immature blood cells rather than mature ones.
Dariel’s treatment protocol at the Floating Hospital at Tufts Medical Center, Hematology/Oncology in Boston will last approximately 3 years including frequent clinic visits and hospitalizations.
He lives at home with his mother, grandparents, aunts and uncles. His mom, Solanyi Peguero is finishing high school while caring for him and being present at all his hospital visits and relies on her parents to help financially.
Her parents have continued to work as much as possible but missed some work days due to Dariel’s medical needs. Additionally, the cost of constant trips and admissions to the hospital has placed a financial strain on the entire family.
The entire Peguero family is very appreciative and grateful for the help and support from Cops for Kids with Cancer.
In 2005, retired Boston Police captain John Dow and his wife Joan began conversations with Mass General Hospital for Children’s Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Center about ways of supporting children with cancer. John, then a cancer survivor, was sensitive to the needs of cancer patients and had a particular empathy for children undergoing challenging treatments. Soon after, the non-profit he founded, Cops for Kids with Cancer, began directing significant support to the pediatric cancer patients in MGHfC’s care.
Cops for Kids supports emergency assistance to vulnerable families, events for patients and their families as well as special “wishes” for teens too old to be served by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. One 20-year-old dealing with recurrent cancer learned that he had no further treatment options just as his mother, a single parent, lost her job. A grant from Cops for Kids covered their expenses while the mother cared for her son during his final months.
Cops for Kids has provided wonderful diversions for patients and their families, such as harbor cruises on a Boston Police patrol boat and private tours of the JFK Aircraft Carrier when it was in Boston during 2007.
In 2007, Captain Dow lost his battle with cancer, but his vision of supporting children with cancer and their families continues. Robert Faherty, retired Boston Police superintendent-in-chief, now leads the committed volunteers who run this superb organization.
