TONY NAPOLITANO
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.