2026 Families
Meet Tony Napolitano
Meet Tony Napolitano, a five-year-old boy whose world has always been full of movement and joy. He has a deep love for sports, especially hockey and lacrosse, and spends his happiest days at the beach, fishing, or riding his scooter through the neighbourhood. Above all else, he proudly takes on the role of a big brother to his siblings, Frankie and Johnny.
On Saturday, November 22nd, Tony was taken to the St. Catharines General Hospital as he was having breathing difficulties. Due to his management of asthma for years prior, his family assumed this was a routine flare-up - scary, but familiar.
By the next day, everything changed. Tests revealed a large mass in his chest, nearly half the size of his chest cavity. Seeing this, he was rushed by ambulance to McMaster Children’s Hospital. It was there that his parents got the devastating news: Tony was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL). Within hours, treatment began. Tony’s chemotherapy treatment plan will last over the next two and a half years.
At the beginning of December, Tony was finally discharged and able to come home, surrounded by his parents, siblings, and the comfort of familiar routines.
His treatments will now continue as an outpatient, and though the journey ahead is long, Tony’s resilience shines brighter than ever.
Through every needle, every scan, every moment of fear or uncertainty, Tony has shown a strength that leaves his family in awe. His courage is constant. His smile, even on the hardest days, is a reminder of the fighter he is. The days that follow are long, overwhelming, but through it all, Tony shows a steadiness and courage far beyond what anyone expected from a child his age. His bravery continues to astonish everyone around him.
Julia’s Journey supports Tony and his family as they navigate the challenges ahead: time off work, hospital trips, treatments, and the countless unseen costs that come with childhood cancer.
Tony’s journey is just beginning, but he is not walking it alone. Every contribution helps lighten their load and allows them to focus on what truly matters: keeping Tony supported, comfortable, and surrounded by love as he continues his treatment.
Meet Robby Berketo
Meet Robby Berketo, a 19-month-old sweet little boy, full of light, curiosity, and happiness. As Robby moves through life, he brings with him a contagious joy which touches everyone he encounters. Even through the most frightening and unimaginable moments of his journey, his smile shines through.
On March 27, 2026, Robby was brought to his family physician after periods of losing his balance, walking with a right-sided head tilt, and vomiting. These symptoms were cause for concern, causing Robby to be urgently sent to the St. Catharines Emergency Department for imaging.
After hours of uncertainty for the family, a CT scan finally came back, revealing something alarming. Doctors determined Robby needed further testing and transferred him to McMaster Children’s Hospital, where an MRI confirmed the presence of a tumour near his brain stem.
Just one week later, on April 3, Robby underwent brain surgery with immense bravery. The surgeons were able to successfully remove 95% of the tumour.
On May 12, 2026, Robby and his family received the devastating news, the tumour was cancerous- Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. Meaning the remaining tumour will be treated with chemotherapy and radiation. As a family, they are now facing intensive treatment, hospital stays, and uncertainty, while doing everything they can to help this little boy. Through every appointment, procedure, bad news, and difficult days, Robby continues to show his strength and resilience.
Although his doctors removed a large portion of the tumour, Robby’s journey is only beginning. Robby is a fighter and has a support system dedicated to surrounding him with love during this time. His courage and bright spirit inspire us immensely and will no doubt be a shining light to everyone in the community.
Julia’s Journey is incredibly honoured to be in a position to support this beautiful family through their journey. We know that this community will rally around Robby, providing the Berketo family with love, support, and generosity. Our hope is to help ease the financial burdens that come with intensive medical care, allowing Marta and Francis to focus their energy where it matters most, being by Robby’s side as he continues his fight.