- April 30, 2024
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Connor Kearsch Courtesy photo
Connor is scheduled for a surgery appointment to have his port placed in order to remove the cancer. Courtesy photo
Connor and his one of his little sisters Courtesy photo
Connor with his sisters, Lily, Clover, Juliet, Mcaylah and Penelope Courtesy photos
Connor Kearsch wants to live a normal life like any other teenager. He loves to ride his four-wheelers and dirt bikes, fish and play with his siblings. But cancer has restricted him in the last three years, and, after he relapsed last month, his childhood continues to fade further away.
Connor was initially diagnosed with Synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, at 11 years old on June, 26, 2014. He went through intense radiation and chemotherapy treatments that often fatigued him. He also underwent surgery and had a rib and his right diaphragm removed, and a muscle from his back was also removed to replace the diaphragm to support is lung.
Connor’s mother, Julie McLaughlin, couldn’t work during this time. Her husband, Patrick — who is disabled — also struggled to find work, so their bills got out of hand. Julie and Connor never spent a full week at home. They’ve mostly lived at the children’s hospital in Jacksonville.
“If this is it, and, if I’m just prolonging his life, I want to spend it with him. I don’t want to be working 50-60 hours per week and then regretting missing this opportunity.”
JULIE MCLAUGHLIN
The family assumed Connor’s greatest cancer concerns were over, when he went into remission in December 2014. From there, he was scheduled for scans and tests to make sure it wouldn’t return.
It was also around this time when Julie took in and eventually adopted her two nieces, giving her a total of six children.
After a year and a half, Connor’s cancer returned this past May. The night his mother found out, Connor was joyfully rebuilding his dirt bike and awaiting a part to take it for a spin.
“Connor is my only boy,” Julie said. “He is my rock. I struggled to find the words to break the news to my son, which is no
easy task for a parent. But, until that weekend was over, I just allowed him to be a kid with no limitations.”
Since his cancer returned, Connor is scheduled for a surgery appointment to have his port placed in order to remove the cancer, remove his right kidney and restart chemo. He also has a spot in his left lung that is being observed.
“If this is it, and, if I’m just prolonging his life, I want to spend it with him,” Julie said. “I don’t want to be working 50-60 hours per week and then regretting missing this opportunity.”
Since Julie put up a GoFundMe page in June 2014, she has only raised $4475 to date. Palm Coast resident Michele Ripley has been following Connor’s story through social media, and, after Connor had relapsed, Michele reached out to the family to help in any way she could.
“Some families have a lot of people helping them,” Ripley said, “but Connor’s family doesn’t know a lot of people, and no one’s reaching out to them. She didn’t even say anything to me when I talked to her, but I found out her A/C was broken. When the A/C got fixed, she asked me for cleaning supplies. I asked her if she cared that I get the word out, and she agreed. Hopefully people would read her story and wants to help. I think we as a community can help her, especially since this family is raising two children who aren’t even theirs.”
For anyone interested in assisting Connor and his family with gas cards, cleaning supplies and/or any other household items, visit his GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/axjykk or email Julie at [email protected].
