MARBLEHEAD — When life gives you lemons, sometimes your community delivers a bit of lemonade.
A pair of Gerry Street brothers heard that their schoolmate Sophia Smith was being treated for a brain tumor and bounced ideas back and forth about how they could help.
Owen Dulac, 10, and his 7-year-old brother Teddy Dulac, sold lemonade at Seaside Park for four days in a row to raise money to help their friend Sophia, knowing the 11-year-old and her family had more than financial stresses to worry about.
“We’re doing it because we really need to make money for Sophia,” said Teddy Dulac. “She has a tumor and we really want to help her.”
In March, Sophia was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, an aggressive, rare, and difficult to treat brain tumor found at the base of the brain. She received radiation treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital for six weeks before moving to The Harley Street Clinic, a private hospital in London with world-leading specialist consultants in cancer, cardiac, neurosciences and paediatrics who provide treatment unavailable in the states.
Sophia’s medical team at Hartley delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumor through a port behind her ear. Though it has been effective, it is not covered by insurance, said her mother, Jennifer Smith.
The family has since traveled back and forth to London three times and a fourth trip is planned for September. The cost for the initial 10-hour surgery to install the port was more than $70,000, and each trip back to London costs about $20,000, she said.
“As any parent would say, we would do it regardless, but it takes a toll,” Jennifer Smith said.
Luckily, the Smiths soon learned they weren’t doing it alone.
Neighbors and friends immediately began reaching into their pockets, local businesses began donating portions of their profits, fundraisers and sports tournaments were planned to raise money. A lobster roll sale, a basketball tournament, and a book sale were all held, and a Sept. 30 fundraiser at the Gerry 5 VFA function hall is planned, which includes live music, hor d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and auctions.
But it was the outreach from children that impressed the family the most.
“There was a boy who figured out how to hold a whiffle ball tournament in her name, and we have kids who are giving up their birthday gifts to help,” said Jennifer Smith. “These kids are coming up with these things on their own and she is just so appreciative.”
To help the family, the Dulac brothers spent their final days of summer vacation operating a lemonade stand across the street from the Police Station at Seaside Park. They averaged a profit of about $50 each day to meet their overall goal of $150 to $200. Customers stopped for lemonade, but when they heard about the cause, they made donations that far exceeded the 50 cent per-cup price.
The boys said they have met Sophia, but don’t know her well.
“We want to help because she’s being going through a lot for about half a year,” said Owen Dulac. “She’s nice, she’s smart, and she’s brave.”
Her mother echoed the sentiment, saying the word “brave” really summed up her daughter’s personality.
“I don’t know how an 11-year-old takes anything like this, but she takes it in stride,” said Jennifer Smith. “She just handles it. A lot of adults wouldn’t be able to do what she does. She is a really stubborn little human but she is just so sweet and so loving and caring. I think that combination has been to her benefit.”
