Mother’s Day is usually a happy day, but this year, Michelle DeLorenzo was given news no mother wants to hear.
DeLorenzo’s 14-year-old son, Devon LaPrade, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor after spending 12 hours in the emergency room to reach the diagnosis hours after Mother’s Day ended. The Rotterdam mother was stunned to hear the results, because she didn’t think the problem was too serious.
“I wasn’t even going to take him to the hospital, but my sister insisted … I really didn’t think that they were going to drop this on us,” said DeLorenzo.
To help the family out, Best Fitness held a Zumbathon fundraiser on Saturday, June 25. Best Fitness’ group exercise room only holds 100 people, so in hopes of more coming, which did, the event was held outside in the parking lot. The Rotterdam Police Department donated barricades to close off the area.
“[Zumba] is something that appeals to not just the regular fitness crowd. It gets a lot of people active that are not gym people,” said Karly Taylor, chief operating officer for Best Fitness. “It is a huge craze and it is fun.”
More than 130 people showed up for the unique event and $2,476 was raised to help offset medical expenses incurred by the family.
LaPrade started to display some symptoms around a week or two before going to the ER, said DeLorenzo, which included walking “funny” and slurred speech. He is also out of the typical age for the tumor to form, because it is most common among 6- to 10-year-olds.
“I told him he had a migraine and gave him some Excedrin,” she said. “That wasn’t a symptom when we brought him to the hospital.”
She said before they brought him to the hospital, he said he thought he had a brain tumor.
“They don’t know what causes it and there is nothing I could have done to prevent it,” said DeLorenzo. “There is not a lot known about it.”....................>>>>.................>>>>....................http://www.spotlightnews.com/news/view_news.php?news_id=1309916299
We are hosting a fundraiser for Devon also, on Sunday August 21st from 12-4pm. Please see our website for more details, http://www.rollarama.com All proceeds benefit Devon and his family!
February 26, 2012 - 7:58 AM Rotterdam teen celebrates special birthday Reported by: Meagan Farley Email: meaganfarley@fox23news.com Updated: 2/25 9:35 pm
Less than one year ago, Rotterdam teen Devon Laprade was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Saturday night, his friends and family gathered together to help him celebrate his fifteenth birthday
As soon as the DJ put on Devon's favorite song, the dance floor was packed.
Dressed in his favorite color blue, close to two hundred people got together to celebrate.
"This is what helps us through this," said Michelle Delorenzo, Devon's mom. "I have the best family and friends in the whole world."
Everything at the party were requests from Devon including a photo booth and a video game van. Everything came from donations from the community.
Michelle says the life expectancy for Devon's condition is not very long but says he is taking it in stride and the family is taking it one day at a time.
"There are some days it is very overwhelming but I can just pick up the phone and call any of these people and I'm better."
Devon's older sister Gabriella says they struggle every day.
"It is hard to explain seeing something like this happen to our little brother you just don't want to see that."
Devon says it is all about keeping positive.
"If I do something I do it and if I can't I don't," he said.
R o t t e r d a m — D e v o n A . LaPrade, 15, of Rotterdam, p a s s e d a w a y peacefully in h i s m o t h e r ’ s a r m s , s u r - rounded by his loving family on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at Albany Medical Center. He was a student at Mohonasen High School. Devon was great with kids, and enjoyed camping, fishing, archery, soccer and loved just being outside and riding his bike. Devon was predeceased by his grandfather, Richard DeLorenzo Sr. He is survived by his devoted mother, Michelle DeLorenzo; and his father, David La-Prade; two brothers, David M. LaPrade II and Michael La-Prade; and sisters, Gabriella G. LaPrade and Alexa A. LaPrade; his grandmother, Charleen De-Lorenzo; great-grandmother, Charlotte Relyea; aunts and uncles, Jennifer and Randy Smith, Rick and Michele DeLorenzo, James and Kristina De-Lorenzo, Mark DeLorenzo and Michael and Cortney DeLorenzo. Devon is also survived by many cousins and friends. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, 3 to 7 p.m. at the D e M a r c o - S t o n e F u n e r a l Home, 1605 Helderberg Ave. At the family’s request, please wear your “Believe” T-shirts to calling hours on Wednesday evening. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, 10 a.m. at St. Madeleine Sophie Church, 3500 Carman Rd. (Rt. 146) in Guilderland. Entombment will follow at Sts. Cyril & Method Cemetery, Rotterdam. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Tyler DeMarco Foundation or Maddie’s Mark. Links are available at demarcostonefuneralhome.com As Always, We Still BELIEVE! Fly High With The Angels Superman!
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