- February 5, 2025
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Anthony Franzini was 11 years old when physicians found a cancerous tumor in his brain stem.
Two days into his hospital stay, he told his parents that he wanted to return dressed as a superhero and deliver gifts to other children.
He fulfilled his wish once before he died four months after his diagnosis.
However, his mother, Jamie, continued his legacy by delivering gifts each holiday and by fighting for more pediatric cancer research funds and awareness at the federal and local levels.
“I felt a very strong sense of responsibility,” she said. “I wasn’t a cancer mom before my son’s diagnosis, and I was living in a bubble thinking that someone else will take care of it, but now, I feel a deeper responsibility to help other kids in my son’s honor.”
Cancer in children is rare, however it is the second leading cause of death in children after unintentional injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2017, more than 15,000 children ages 0 to 19 were diagnosed and nearly 15% will die of the disease.
“I was completely shocked that there was a pediatric cancer that was incurable,” Jamie said. “I was naive and didn’t realize the statistics of how many children are lost to pediatric cancer. The more I spoke to others, the more I realized they were under the same assumption.”
After Anthony's death, her friends were geared up to help raise awareness.
In December, Sarah Stephens, from Deland, formed the Warrior Kids Foundation, a faith-based organization that helps Central Florida families financially and emotionally through their child’s cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Stephens formed the foundation in honor of Anthony and also her daughter, Eleanor, who was diagnosed at 3 months old with stage 4 neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that forms in the adrenal glands, chest, neck or spinal cord.
Eleanor is now two and resumed cancer treatment last week because her cancer progressed.
“We’re immersed in the pediatric cancer world, and we know how it affects families financially and emotionally,” Stephens said.
In April, Franzini, Stephens and their friend, Laurie Parker, joined the Alliance for Childhood Cancer in Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress to pass the Childhood Cancer Survivorship Treatment Access and Research Act, or the Star Act.
About 4% of federal funding is allocated to pediatric cancer research and treatment, according to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, however funding the Star Act will enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors, move childhood cancer research forward and improve childhood cancer surveillance.
Eleanor wore a black tutu with shimmery, gold words asking, “Am I worth it?”
The answer was yes.
In May, the bill passed through the House of Representatives and Congress to await the president’s signature.
“It gives us a lot of hope because we fought for what we believed in and realized we’re not fighting against a brick wall,” Stephens said.
The next step in raising awareness is ensuring it trickles down to the local level.
Parker emailed Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette for support, and he responded within minutes with a plan to declare September Gold Ribbon Month in the city.
September also would have been Anthony’s birthday and is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
The ceremony will take place at the City Council meeting on Sept. 4.
“We’re super excited about the opportunity to raise awareness,” Parker said. “We’d like to get the community on board not just with donations, but with their hearts. I encourage people to come out to the meeting. The more numbers, the bigger the voice.”
Franzini said the mayor’s support brought tears to her eyes and makes her proud to be a Port Orange resident.
With the support, she knows the community can make a difference in raising awareness.
“If my son had to lose his life to cancer, we can find purpose in that and help others," she said. "Instead of being sad or feeling stuck, we can move forward.”
