‘Jeanne’s Journey for Hope’ Rallies Around 6-Year-old Joliet Boy

In a lifetime, most people don’t spend more than a few months in a hospital—and some can measure those stays by a handful of days, or perhaps weeks.

It’s a different situation for 6-year-old Dominic Hamilton. Over the past 2 ½ years, the Joliet boy has been a regular patient at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. Dominic has medulloblastoma, a common brain cancer in children, and endured the difficult process of chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, and proton radiation.

His hardship came to the attention of Greg, Michelle and Jeff Kurinec, siblings and leaders of a non-profit organization called Jeanne’s Journey for Hope (JJFH). The group has set a goal of raising $20,000 for Dominic and his family.

The capstone of those efforts is from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 21st, where JJFH holds its 8th annual fundraiser at Square Celt Ale House & Grill, 39 Orland Square Drive in Orland Park.

A $50 donation at the door provides access to open bar, snacks, raffles, auctions, live entertainment by Maggie Speaks, a popular Chicago-area band, and more.

Almost exactly one year after his initial diagnosis in February 2017, Dominic’s body did not have any evidence of disease. Five months later, however, he relapsed. He has been undergoing aggressive medical treatment ever since, a process that is now in its 14th month. Dominic has had four rounds of chemo, three stem cell transplants, and six weeks of proton radiation, said his mother, Meagan.

And although they tell a grueling journey on their own, those statistics only hint at the day-to-day battles that Dominic has waged. He receives six hours a week of physical therapy and occupational therapy, undergoes at least two blood draws a month, and every three months he has an MRI of his brain and spine.

Dominic also sees multiple specialists related to side effects from the medical care. He turned 6 in July and has started kindergarten.

“My mom works two jobs so that I can stay home and be with Dominic,” said Meagan. “He continues to receive lots of therapy, has regular doctor’s appointments, and medicine including home health care.”

Meagan and her mother, Debbie, are “super-heroes, like Dominic,” said Michelle Kurinec. “We are humbled to be able to give them all the support we can, both emotionally and financially.”

Through its first seven years of existence, JJFH has raised nearly $100,000 to support the American Cancer Society and to help seven families pay hospital and medical bills or as income replacement if the disease has resulted in a loss of employment. The past two years, the fundraiser has netted nearly $50,000.

The Kurinecs lost their mother, Jeanne, to colon cancer. Inspired by her lifelong passion to serve others, they have honored her legacy through helping others also fighting cancer. Beneficiaries have included a family with a 2-year-old boy fighting cancer—who is now a healthier 4-year-old—four families whose mothers were fighting cancer, one family whose father was battling the disease, and a close family friend.

“One of the best parts of this process is getting to meet each recipient and their families,” said Greg Kurinec. “We get to learn about their fight and we now stand right next to them to help any way we can.”

Greg and Michelle are graduates of Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox; Jeff is a graduate of Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park.

A variety of businesses and individuals have become sponsors of the event, and anyone interested in exploring how they may become a sponsor is encouraged to contact the Kurinec family at JeannesJourney4Hope@gmail.com.

For updates, photos of past events and other information, visit www.facebook.com/JeannesJourneyForHope. The organization is also online at www.jeannesjourneyforhope.org.