There are few things that move our jaded and bitter hearts to tears faster than a sick kid. Recently Oliver Gant, son of local writer Jedidiah Gant of Newraleigh.com, was diagnosed with cancer. As with any epic battle the bills are enormous, but fear not! Friends of the family are stepping up to host a benefit concert to help little Oliver kick cancers ass.
Come out to Tir Na nOg on Jan 8th. In addition to local bands, many local restaurants, shops, salons, etc have offered gift certificates that will be raffled off. Tir Na nOg will also be donating 10% of all food sales and if you can’t make it, Tir Na nOg will be donating $1 of every special sold throughout December.
Raffle tickers go on sale for$5 each. Prizes include: a 32 inch LCD TV. A Sony Streamer. $200 GIFT BAG with $50 gift cards to 4 Raleigh Restaurants. $200 Gift Basket from Tir Na nOg. $150 Gift Basket from Andrew Britton Books. Haircuts and Color from top City stylists and much more. You can buy by phone (call Tir Na nOg with your credit card) or you can pick them up at the concert.
We wish Oliver and his family the best. No one should have to go through this, especially a 2-year-old. If you can make it please attend. If you can’t go get dinner at Tir Na nOg. We will update this page if we get more details or a PayPal donation link.
Here is more information on Oliver from the omnipotent Facebook:
“On February 25th 2011, we took Oliver to the ER for what we thought were health issues related to constipation. After a bevy of tests, the doctors found a sacrococcygeal teratoma (which is a type of “germ cell tumor”) growing from his tailbone into his abdomen. The tumor was impacting his bladder, causing his belly distention and lots of discomfort. He was immediately transferred to the Pediatric Oncology unit at UNC’s Children’s Hospital. A few days later, Oliver underwent biopsy surgery to confirm the type of tumor and its stage of development, which the doctors determined was “stage 3″. Oliver’s tumor was malignant but thankfully had not metastastized to other organs.
Oliver underwent the standard protocol to treat his type of cancer, which was 4 rounds of chemotherapy (starting 3/4/2011). Each round took 5 days with a 2 week break in-between. After 4 rounds, the tumor shrunk in size by half! In early June, Oliver had major abdominal surgery where the surgeon removed all he could see but the pathology report confirmed residual cancerous cells. So surgery was followed by 2 more rounds of chemo in the hopes that would kill what was left. However, after two glorious months “off treatment,” Oliver’s AFP level (tumor marker) started to rise and scans confirmed regrowth of the residual cells.
After much despair and sadness, we’ve regrouped and have a new plan. Oliver’s oncologist opted for a new chemo cocktail this time (Taxol, Carboplatin, Ifosfamide) and he’s completed two rounds. His AFP level is dropping again to our enormous relief. Oliver now faces another big surgery in mid-December where the surgeons will attempt a full resection and also treat the tumor bed with intraoperative radiation. We’ve decided to go to Sloan-Kettering in NYC for this surgery.”
