CHICAGO — The family of 5-year-old Lucas "Bear" Cervone has received thousands of birthday cards that honor the memory of the Belmont Cragin boy who died after a battle with cancer earlier this week.
Lucas had fought various forms of cancer since he was a toddler, but he appeared to be recovering from a second fight with leukemia when doctors found a tumor wrapped around his heart. His family, wanting Lucas to see how many people cared about him, asked that people help them gather 500 birthday cards for Lucas' 6th birthday on May 7.
The Cervones' request gained national attention and thousands of cards and packages poured in. Though Lucas died on Sunday, he was able to read at least some of the cards that were sent to the Cervones.
Lucas' family has read 5,000 cards — with many more still to go through — the family said on Facebook on Tuesday night.
"What I can say is that the effort, honesty and love that came from the cards had been incredible," Lucas' family said. "We needed to read these tonight and we want to thank you for everything. In this immensely painful time many of your cards caused belly laughter in the room."
Lucas and his fight were an "inspiration," said Jaime Jaramillo, the assistant principal at Steinmetz College Prep, which collected 555 cards for the Cervones.
Lucas' family has previously asked that those who wish to help their family reach out to organizations that helped the Cervones in their fight against cancer: Family Reach, Operation North Pole Chicago, Cal's Angels, LifeSource and 12 Oaks Foundation.
"These folks supported us through the hardest times of our lives and this is one way we can say thank you by recognizing them for their services," the family posted on Facebook.
The family has also encouraged more Latinos to sign up to be bone marrow donors so they can help people in need of donations.
Related stories:
• Lucas 'Bear' Cervone, 5, Dies After Battling Cancer: 'He Is An Inspiration'
• 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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