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Robot Could Help Boy, 5, Battling Leukemia 'Go' to School After Transplant

By Kelly Bauer | November 13, 2015 5:39am | Updated on November 13, 2015 10:03am
 Lucas
Lucas "Bear" Cervone is battling leukemia for the second time.
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Facebook/Lucas Bear Heroes

CHICAGO — A 5-year-old Belmont Cragin boy is trying to figure out how he can get a robot so he can keep "going" to school while receiving treatment after a stem cell transplant.

Lucas Cervone, called "Bear," received the stem cell transplant on Wednesday. The transplant — which came from a man in Germany — will help him in his fight against a second bout of leukemia. It's an "uphill battle," said Lucas' dad, Anthony Cervone.

The stem cells Lucas received have to "settle into place" and the next two weeks are crucial, Anthony Cervone said. Doctors are carefully watching Lucas and the family expects to be in the hospital until at least December, and then they'll be in a nearby Ronald McDonald House.

“I think we’re grateful and hopeful and overwhelmed and stressed out all at the exact same time,” Anthony said.

We wanted to share Lucas' stem cell transplant with all of you. Here are his cells flowing into him for the first time....

Posted by Lucas Bear Heroes on Wednesday, November 11, 2015
 Lucas Cervone, who is 5 years old, needs a stem donation for treatment as he undergoes a second battle with leukemia.
Lucas Cervone, who is 5 years old, needs a stem donation for treatment as he undergoes a second battle with leukemia.
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Faceebook/Lucas Bear Heroes

In the meantime, Lucas misses his friends, teachers and, odd as it may sound, going to his kindergarten class, Anthony said. He's video chatted with classmates and his teacher has visited.

“It was the happiest he had been,” Anthony said. The class chatted with Lucas on Tuesday and the little boy was ecstatic. “It’s the biggest smile I’ve seen on his face in a while, especially since we’ve been here.”

Lucas does schoolwork and meets with a teacher while in the hospital receiving treatment, but he'll be out of school for months and the robot would help Lucas be more present in class and keep up with friends.

The robot would allow Lucas to see and hear what happens in class, and his teachers and friends would be able to see and hear him, Anthony said. Lucas would be able to control it from afar so the robot could move around the school.

“It would definitely bring him back to school, so to speak, where we’d have that socialization with his friends. He’d have that connection with his friends and with his teachers and with school in general,” Anthony said.

But, the robot would cost about $8,000, Anthony said. Lucas' family and his kindergarten teacher, Aubrey Perlee, at Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy are reaching out to potential donors, researching grants and trying to figure out other ways they can raise the money.

They're also trying to find a way the robot could be shared among future families who need it, Anthony said.

Anyone who is interested in helping with the robot can email Lucas' parents, Anthony and Rina, at LucasBearHeroes@gmail.com or can keep up with Lucas' story on Facebook.

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