Pasco Firefighters, John Cena Visit Boys Battling Cancer

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A parade of Pasco County Fire Rescue trucks with sirens blazing drove past the homes of two Pasco County boys who are battling cancer.

On Friday, firefighters and volunteers with the Suncoast Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society paraded past the home of 7-year-old Benjamin Keller of New Port Richey, who has been named Boy of the Year for the LLS.

Then on Sunday, firefighters organized a similar parade past the home of David Castle of Odessa to help him celebrate his 8th birthday.

Benjamin's mother, Tara Keller, said the coronavirus pandemic has been especially difficult for parents of children with compromised immune systems.

"I was terrified to even take him to the hospital for chemo," said Keller.

David is fighting stage 4 diffuse anaplastic Wilms' tumor, a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children.

In addition to getting the birthday parade on Sunday, David, who's a big wrestling fan, received a visit from WWE superstar John Cena earlier this week. Cena showed up at David's home wearing a face mask and gloves, and bearing gifts including two WWE title belts, signed T-shirts, a signed program, a signed bobble head, hat and some of his armbands.

"David was taken to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital after complaining of not feeling very well and being very tired for several days," said his grandmother, Valerie Miller. "On Friday Oct. 25, we received the worse news ever. Doctors reported that David has a very aggressive tumor called diffused anaplastic Wilms', which was already in stage 4 upon diagnoses. The tumor has already begun to spread to other parts of his body."

She said her grandson has already gone surgery and undergo radiation and chemotherapy. She's set up a Gofundme page to help pay for his medical and travel expenses. His mother, Tammy Miller, also has four other children at home.

"There are many upcoming medical costs and travel to the hospital, which is 1 1/2 hours away from their home," said Valerie Miller. "But they also have a home and all the standard expenses it takes to keep a family going."

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