Seventh Grader Finds Way to Help Friend

Francesco Galvano will not be ready to join his classmates when they return to Pearl River Middle School Wednesday, but the seventh grader's presense will be hard to miss.

His friend Craig MacDonald made sure of that.

Not long after finding out that Galvano was diagnosed with Leukemia earlier this summer, MacDonald started making up t-shirt's with his friend's likeness on the front and the words "We Love Francesco" on the back. MacDonald has sold over 200 of them at $25 each, with the proceeds going to the Galvano family.

"I wanted to do something to support him and to let him know we are thinking of him," said MacDonald, who is 12. "I wanted to do something for him. Some people have bracelets. I was looking at different sites and found this one (to make the t-shirts)."

The plan is for as many of their classmates as possible to wear the t-shirts for the first day of school Wednesday so Francesco can be there with them.

"We were very impressed that this was the way he wanted to handle this, which for a 12-year-old is heartwrenching to have to deal with," said Craig's mother, Cathleen MacDonald. "We were proud of him that he tried to spin it and makde it positive."

Cathleen MacDonald estimated that Craig has given $2,100 to the Galvanos so far, with more to come.

"I'm friendly with Francesco's mom. She's just overwhelmed, not just with the t-shirts, but with how much the entire community has rallied around her family and her boys," Cathleen MacDonald said. "There are times she's speechless and she's not somebody usually lacking in words. She's very appreciative."

Francesco Galvano was able to come home from the hospital Aug. 22, though his recovery is still a work in progress. More information about his condition and an address to make direct donations to help the family with its uncovered medical expenses can be found at http://friends4francesco.blogspot.com/

"He's not going to be back in school this year, but he will next year," Craig MacDonald said.

He admitted that there are times dealing with his friend's condition is difficult, but mostly he has adopted Francesco's positive attitude.

"He's really happy with everything. He enjoys stuff," Craig said of Francesco. "He laughs a lot."

So how does he feel about the t-shirts?

"At first he was kind of nervous that everybody would be wearing his face around," Craig said. "Then he thought it would be pretty cool. So when he goes back, he will see his face around."

He added that at first, their friends did not talk much about Francesco's condition, though that has changed.

"More recently everybody is on his facebook page commenting and saying I hope you feel better," Craig said.

The MacDonalds first found out through an email from the boys' soccer coach. Craig said he knew what Leukemia was from the Pennies for Patients program he participates in at school.

"At first when we heard it, we just went around crying," Cathleen MacDonald said. "He's a kid with so much life and such a strong spirit. We couldn't believe this was happening."

That was when Craig showed his parents the t-shirt he had made ont he computer. His mother suggested ordering them for the entire soccer team. Then came a soccer camp Pirate 1-Touch Camp run by Pearl River High School varsity coach Damon O'Keefe.

"Our family wanted to wear the shirt every day so Francesco would be at camp," Cathleen MacDonald said. "That provoked a second order. People saw the shirt and wanted to purchase the shirts.

"Then word of mouth got out a little more. That prompted a 150-shirt order."

"You have two good frineds who would do anything for each other," O'Keefe said. "It's nice to see them at that age care that much. What Craig is doing now is pretty unbelievable."