Vandebilt Catholic High student Ben Leary was preparing to attend the homecoming dance with his neighbor, Julia, when he was diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer.
Since his diagnosis in October, friends and neighbors like Esther Gorsha have helped raise money for the family while he undergoes radiation treatment at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis.
The Houma 15-year-old was diagnosed after a series of debilitating headaches. His parents, Sean and Penny Leary, took him to the emergency room at Terrebonne General Medical Center.
After an MRI, Ben was transported to Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, where doctors found the tumor in his right frontal lobe.
Within a few days, Ben had two surgeries, but some of the tumor remained, Gorsha said. Ben was later transferred to St. Jude, where he is now receiving radiation treatment.
The treatment has its risks. Because the tumor is close to Ben’s optic nerve, he runs the risk of a stroke, losing his vision or any number of things, Gorsha said.
Despite all of that, Louisiana State Police Troop C's Grant-A-Wish program made Ben’s wishes come true as he traveled to New York City with his family over the Christmas holiday.
“Let your faith be greater than your fear" has become Ben’s motto.
Ben completed his 17th radiation treatment out of 34 Monday as the family hopes to be home by the end of the month.
“Not often does he not have a smile on his face," his sister Sarah Leary said in a Facebook post to the ‘Hope with Ben’ page. "The doctors all agree that he is in very decent shape for what he has been dealt.”
Since October, the community has stepped up to support Ben. The Vandibelles choir performed at Milano’s restaurant in Houma just before Christmas to raise money for the family. Some of his classmates helped distribute bracelets inscribed with “Hope with Ben” to other students and residents to raise awareness of Ben’s condition.
"Our school community is one that lives by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not a matter of stepping up but following in Jesus' footsteps to lend a helping hand to those in need," Vandebilt President David Boudreaux said. "With Ben's initial diagnosis, more than 400 students, faculty, parents and friends joined together for a prayer service. Many organizations on campus have raised funds to help Ben, and Ben's teachers are coordinating with St. Jude's tutors to keep Ben up with his studies. The Vandebilt Catholic family continues to pray for Ben daily and help toward fundraising efforts in any way possible."
A fundraising campaign through YouCaring.com has collected more than $36,000 in donations since November.
“It’s very humbling, but it’s very overwhelming,” Penny Leary said. “What we’ve received is ginormous outpouring of support, prayers, financial, anything.”
Even total strangers have asked what they can do to help, she said.
In December, Ben received a video from several country music stars, including country music stars Blake Shelton and Hunter Hayes.
“I wish I could be there to say hi to you, but ... I’m thinking about you, and I hope you have a Merry Christmas, man,” Shelton said in the video.
Gorsha is planning a benefit for the Leary family. The family-friendly event will feature live music, a live auction and food. The Krewe of Aphrodite donated use of its hall, at 212 Venture Blvd. in Houma, for the event, scheduled for 5-9 p.m. Feb. 24.
Tickets are $58 for adults and $38 for children 10-17; the price includes a T-shirt. Without the shirt, tickets cost $38 for adults and $18 for children.
T-shirts are also available for $28. All tickets can be purchased online at hhopewithbentoo.ticketspice.com/hope-with-ben-too.
Information about Ben can be found at facebook.com/Hope-With-Ben-154373855310110.
-- Staff Writer Julia Arenstam can be reached at 448-7636 or julia.arenstam@houmatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @gingerale214.