Palatine Girl's 'Incredible Spirit' Despite Illness

Six-year-old Rosie Colucci knows from experience how much of a difference toys can make for children in the hospital.

As an infant, Colucci was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow in the nervous system. She has since developed an inoperable brain tumor.

Despite her illness Colucci kept a positive attitude. Nicknamed "Rosie the Rockstar" by nurses, she began having toy drives and raising money for Children's Memorial Hospital more than two years ago.

"I wanted to start collecting toys because I wanted to make the kids in the hospital happy," Colucci said.

When Rosie was admitted to Children's for an extended period of time and visitors were bringing her gifts, she wanted to share them with other young patients, her mom, JoAnne Colucci said. Eventually the effort grew into Rosie's Toy Box.

"I really didn't think that it was going to get this big," JoAnne Colucci said, adding that in the last two years the family has donated thousands of toys to Children's Memorial Hospital.

The Coluccis have led toy drives. Made goody bags for Halloween. Around Christmas, their Palatine home is filled with toys destined for Children's Memorial Hospital.

"We would tell people we were doing a toy drive for a specific occasion like Halloween and people would just drop stuff off," JoAnne Colucci said. "She [Rosie] started to really promote it, telling people about it, sending out emails."

Rosie, a first grader at Paddock School, still regularly goes to the hospital for treatment. She sees 15 different specialists and has had three rounds of chemotherapy.

The neurofibromatosis and brain tumor has caused other health problems for Rosie. At one point the tumor was affecting her vision, causing her to be nearly blind in one eye. The tumor has shifted since then, although her vision still is somewhat impacted.

The tumor also has placed pressure on her pituitary gland, causing her to have pituitary gigantism. Although under control now, she went through a period where she experienced a growth rate equivalent to 11 inches a year.

"Yeah, I'm the tallest one in my class," Rosie said with a smile.

Despite the near constant health issues, including periods of extreme pain from the pressure the tumor has placed on her brain, Rosie and her family have continued their charitable efforts.

Recently, Rosie and her older sister, 10-year-old Bella, participated in the Children Memorial Foundation's Dance Marathon fundraiser. Rosie raised more than $8,241 and her team–Bella & Rosie's Rock Stars–had raised $22,359 as of April 21. The team's goal is $25,000.

The Colucci family was involved with Children's Memorial Hospital before Rosie was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. A neighbor's child had health problems and the Coluccis helped raise money and donated toys to the hospital.

Years later when Rosie was hospitalized, JoAnne Colucci noticed that her daughter was playing with some of the very toys she had donated years earlier.

"It was weird," JoAnne Colucci said. "I'd say, 'Oh my gosh that was from us.' It was kind of like everything had come full circle. I was doing this to help the kids that were there, but at the same time I had no idea that it was in my future that my own child was [going to be there]."

The cost of Rosie's treatment has been well more than $2 million–most of which has been covered by insurance. However, as Rosie gets older, the cost of her medications continue to rise and the insurance covers less and less. She now is on 13 different medications.

On Oct. 1, Holy Family Parish, 2515 Palatine Rd., will have the first fundraiser the family has ever had for Rosie's medical related expenses.

Throughout everything, the youngster has maintained a positive attitude.

The last time Rosie was in the hospital, she had an infection and was in isolation, her mother said. She couldn't go to the playrooms. Visitors had to wear gowns, masks and gloves.

"She says, 'Isn't this the best room we've ever gotten? We got a private room," JoAnne Colucci recalled. "She's just got an incredible spirit. This spirit, I don't know where it comes from, I mean obviously it's from God. She's the most positive kid I know."