Pleasanton Little Leaguer Battling Rare Cancer Home for Holidays

Green balloons and banners with touching sentiments festooned the entryway to 11-year-old Dillon O’Leary’s home as he returned to Pleasanton last week, more than six months after he collapsed on a baseball field in May.

Members of the community came together to welcome the Pleasanton Little Leaguer recently diagnosed with a rare cancer after he was discharged Thursday following a six-month stay in Children’s Hospital Oakland. O’Leary was met by family, friends from school, along with local police and firefighters who cheered for him as he arrived.

O’Leary, who was carried off of the field by his father when he collapsed in May, was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was airlifted to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and placed in intensive care. Tests finally confirmed O’Leary has Ependymoma tumors throughout his back and brain.

O’Leary’s mom, Karina O’Leary, told KTVU during an interview, “We’re just going to keep putting one step in front of the other. The road is still long and unknown.”

O’Leary will soon begin cancer treatment.

A GoFundMe page has been created to raise money to help with the costs of O’Leary’s extensive medical expenses.
Follow O’Leary on his path to recovery via Facebook. Donate to the O’Leary’s fund here.

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• Community Rallies for Pleasanton Little Leaguer Fighting for His Life After Collapsing on Baseball Field
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Photos courtesy Bree Gomes