By Mary Pritchard
Hudson – Kevin Griffin was living the life of a typical teenager when he was thrust into a fight for his life. Kevin, 16, of Hudson, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) April 4.
Kevin was immediately sent to Boston Children's Hospital, where doctors worked to stabilize his condition and begin aggressive treatments; he ultimately received a bone marrow transplant July 16. His family members were always at his side.
“Kevin has been in the hospital for 16 weeks all together since his diagnosis,” Kevin's mother, Debbie, said. “Hopefully, we can go home in three weeks. In general, Kevin is feeling okay right now… he's dealing with very painful side-effects and he's tired, but if it weren's for the pain, he's be feeling pretty good.”
According to Debbie, Kevin will remain restricted for a year. “Kevin isn's allowed out of his hospital room right now and visitors are limited. His immune system won's be fully working for a year. Once home, he can's have visitors inside our home – only outdoors. He can's go to any stores or restaurants, or have restaurant food.”
Debbie said Kevin, who is a student in the metal fabrications shop at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, has an excellent prognosis, but it will be a very long road for him.
“Doctors tell us this should be the cure, but he'sl be out of school for a full year,” she said.
A waitress at Jake's Restaurant and Coffee Shop in Marlborough for 20 years, Debbie has had to reduce her work schedule from six days a week to two days, and many weeks has not been able to work at all, in order to be at her son's side in the hospital. Kevin's father, Dennis Griffin, also of Hudson, and Kevin's sister, Kasey, 10, have also spent time with Kevin at the hospital.
“Kasey misses us being home and together,” Debbie said. “Thinking about that just tears my heart out. It's like half of me is missing when I can's be with both of my kids.”
Another Hudson family is familiar with what the Griffin family is going through and is asking the community to help provide much needed assistance for the Griffins. Andrew's Helpful Hands, of Hudson, a nonprofit organization, will hold a benefit in Kevin's honor. Andrew's Helpful Hands & Family BBQ will raise funds so the organization can pay the Griffins” mortgage for up to one year.
Andrew's Helpful Hands was founded by John Sousa in honor of his nephew, Andrew Swenson. Andrew received a bone marrow transplant at age 5, and, due to complications after his transplant, passed away in July 2002, the day after his 7th birthday.
“When Andrew was in the hospital, he often expressed concern for other kids,” Sousa said. “My sister Zee was there for seven months straight with her son and fortunately, the family was able to help them through. He was so sweet. The little guy saw that some kids were there alone and asked me if I could “make it so all the mommies could be at the hospital with their children.””
Sousa agreed to help Andrew establish an organization to help. “If people qualify, we help them with their mortgage while their child's immune system is being repaired,” Sousa said.
Andrew's parents, John and Zee Swenson, and his brother, Jonathan, 18, gathered with family and friends to honor what would have been Andrew's 16th birthday July 27.
“We released 200 balloons with notes on them and had a picnic in honor of his birthday,” Sousa said.
“An amazing child is no longer here, but continues to help other families,” Zee added. Funds raised from the benefit will go directly to helping the Griffin family.
“This benefit means that I can concentrate on Kevin and his treatment without the worry of not being able to work the hours I had worked before,” Debbie said.
“As a single mom, knowing that my children will have their home through all of this is one of my main concerns and the fact that I can be with Kevin through all of this means the world to me. I thank everyone involved with Andrew's Helpful Hands.”
The Sunday, Aug. 21 benefit will be from noon to 6 p.m. at the Hudson Elks. It will include food, games, raffles, live bands, a deejay, and a bouncy house and will be videotaped so Kevin can watch from his hospital room. Tickets are $10; kids under 12 are free. For information, tickets or to donate raffle items, visit www.andrewshelpfulhands.com or call 508-380-1797. Donations may be mailed to: Andrew's Helpful Hands, P.O. Box 751, Hudson, MA 01749; memo “Kevin Griffin” on the check.