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Lucas 'Bear' Cervone, 5, Dies After Battling Cancer: 'He Is An Inspiration'

 A 5-year-old Belmont Cragin boy who battled cancer for years and received national attention for his goal of receiving 500 birthday cards has died.
A 5-year-old Belmont Cragin boy who battled cancer for years and received national attention for his goal of receiving 500 birthday cards has died.
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Facebook/Lucas Bear Heroes

CHICAGO — A 5-year-old Belmont Cragin boy who battled cancer for years and received national attention for his goal of receiving 500 birthday cards has died.

Lucas "Bear" Cervone died on Sunday, his family said on Facebook.

Lucas' family had been trying to gather 500 birthday cards to surprise the boy for his 6th birthday on May 7, saying they would show Lucas, who has battled various forms of cancer since he was a toddler, that people cared for him. Thousands of cards from across the United States were sent to the family.

"He is cancer-free and no longer in pain," Anthony Cervone, Lucas' father, posted on Facebook on Sunday.

Lucas' fight against cancer served as an inspiration, said Jaime Jaramillo, the assistant principal of Steinmetz College Prep, earlier this week. That school sent 555 cards to Lucas' family.

"He is an inspiration for us, and we do think about all the struggles they've been through," Jaramillo said.

Lucas was first diagnosed with leukemia as a toddler. After recovering, he was diagnosed with a different form of leukemia just months later.

Battling Cancer

Lucas underwent radiation, chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant to fight his second bout with leukemia in November.

During recovery, he struggled with breathing problems, pneumonia, insomnia, mouth sores and fevers. He coughed blood. He was sedated and chemically paralyzed for more than a month during one treatment.

But there were good days, too: His father held his hands as Lucas walked for the first time post-treatment on Jan. 17. A few weeks later, Lucas' mom was at his side as he walked up and down a small staircase, the first steps he'd conquered in nearly three months. The family and their supporters raised more than $7,000 to buy robots that helped Lucas — and will help other children — "go" to school while in the hospital.

And on Feb. 6, Lucas went home.

Things were a little more normal for Lucas there: His family celebrated a belated Christmas in February, with Lucas and his brother, Franco, tearing open wrapping paper to reveal an Xbox One, games and two controllers.

"Now we can both play together," Franco told his little brother.

For Easter, Lucas wore a Ninja Turtle onesie and got toys, jelly beans and other sugary treats.

In and out of the hospital for months, Lucas even celebrated when his "port" — a spot under his skin where a needle would be attached to give him chemotherapy — wasn't used.

"I'm free!" he told his mom in late April, giggling and bouncing up and down.

But by April 24 Lucas was having abdominal pain. He was brought to the hospital, where tests showed he had a mass in his chest.

There was a new tumor, Anthony said. It was pressed against Lucas' heart.

Birthday cards

The tumor was "behaving like a lymphoma," Anthony said on Tuesday, his voice sometimes cracking. Doctors said they thought Lucas has relapsed.

"And after ... discussions with them, and after trying to figure out if there is a curative solution for this, there is not," Anthony said. "There is nothing that they have available to them that will cure this."

Lucas, who battled cancer for 3½ years, would not undergo exploratory treatments, the family decided, fearing he would suffer.

"Quite honestly, my wife and I are at a point where we don't want him to ... we just don't want to put him through any more," Anthony said. "We've been struggling and fighting and fighting and fighting some more. He's been incredible. And he's overcome," Anthony paused, his voice catching. "He's overcome so many odds.

"We can't ask him to do any more. I won't prolong this for our sake. I don't know if anyone can understand that if they're not in our position. But I can't be selfish. I can't make him suffer more because I don't want him to let go," he said.

The family hosted a private birthday party this weekend, unsure if Lucas would make it to May 7.

At least some of the hundreds of cards that had been sent to Lucas reached the boy before he passed away, his family said.

"We have talked to Bear about the end and it seems he understands what is to come," Anthony posted on Facebook before Lucas passed away. "That has been the hardest conversation we have ever had in our lives, I think.

"Bear is strong and still fighting his way through, but he seems to be more ready to go every day."

Related stories:

• Hundreds Of Cards Sent To Lucas 'Bear,' 5-Year-Old With Incurable Cancer

• Family Of Boy With Incurable Cancer Trying To Gather 500 Birthday Cards

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

• 'Lucas Bear,' 5-Year-Old With Cancer, To Get Needed Transplant From Germany

• Family of 'Lucas Bear,' 5, Asks Latinos to Donate Bone Marrow

• Life-Saving Bone Marrow Match Needed for 5-Year-Old Battling Leukemia

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