Hope surges for Agoura High School leukemia victim

By John Loesing Acorn Staff Writer

Brandon Quinn and friend

"Without the dark there can be no light," said a poet I once knew.

Last Friday, 16-year-old Brandon Quinn saw a ray of hope in his life as doctors announced that the boy’s leukemia had gone into remission.

"It was like a huge weight off my shoulders and Brandon’s as well," said his mother, Marti Quinn. "It’s only the tip of the iceberg, though."

"I’m thinking positive," said Brandon, recuperating from chemotherapy at a friend’s home in Agoura Hills. He and his mother had to leave their apartment in Calabasas for fear that the small, musty unit might create problems for Brandon’s weakened immune system.

Brandon had been an "A" student and star player for the Agoura High School baseball team when he found out last month that he had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood malignancy. The disease represents nearly one-third of all pediatric cancers.

Healthy, handsome and outgoing, Brandon took a turn for the worse in February when he started complaining of symptoms that appeared to be mononucleosis.

"Brandon is an athlete, so he’s kind of tune with his body and kept telling me, ‘I don’t feel good, something’s wrong,’" Marti said. "I have to give a lot of credit to him for knowing something wasn’t right."

The diagnosis hit the family hard. Marti had been a single mom following the death of Brandon’s father five years ago in an automobile accident and has had had to raise Brandon, his 18-year-old brother, Jason, and his 10-year-old sister, Zoey, all on her own.

Marti is a registered nurse who works for Blue Cross in Woodland Hills and, ironically, her job includes handling bone marrow transplant cases for cancer patients.

"There are certain things I’ll never forget, like how the doctor told us," Marti said. "I can still remember him saying, ‘We call this leukemia.’

"When I was a new nurse, I worked with leukemics, so I have more than I need to know," she said.

Brandon is taking a week off from his chemotherapy as the family moves into a newer, larger apartment in Agoura Hills. Several friends were able to contribute financial support.

"He’s done as well as he could, but (the chemo) makes him very tired and it’s made him anemic," Marti said.

Her best hope is that doctors caught the disease in time.

"All his cell lines weren’t completely affected by it," she said. "His white cell count was still normal and his hemoglobin and hematic work, his red blood cells, were still normal. It was his platelet count that was abnormal."

Although the May 2 biopsy was the best news the family had received in months, doctors told Brandon he’d still have to remain on chemotherapy for up to three years. The boy has lost more than 20 pounds and must rest constantly.

Brandon said he misses playing baseball and hanging out with his friends. "It’s hard not being out there and stuff," he said, but the community has been wonderfully supportive and his buddies visit him regularly.

"They come over and we watch the Laker games," he pointed out.

Lauri and Steve Rivetti welcomed Marti and Brandon into their home during their time of need. Rivetti was Brandon’s All-Star baseball coach and one of his biggest fans.

"Out of any kid who’s ever played for me, he’s played the hardest," Rivetti said. "He’s got the heart of a champion and I have no doubt that he’ll come back."

Friends such as Linda Brenden, Katalin Coburn and Lynn LaRocque are among the dozens of community members who have offered their support as well.

"There’ve been so many who want to help and have tried to help that it’s brought out a lot of good feelings about people rallying around a tough situation and a good kid," Rivetti said.

"I think the plans are for him to do something really special for people down the road. I think he’s learned a lot from this."

I know the Quinn family personally. My stepson Eric is Jason’s best friend and together the two have been forced to become men, sooner rather than later.

For weeks, Jason had to live alone in the old apartment while Brandon tried to regain his immune system. Eric was often there to keep him company.

"I’m used to having my family home," Jason said. "One day, everything’s okay, and the next day, I’m living at home by myself … I deserve it to happen to me more than my brother does, like he doesn’t deserve it at all."

Marti is hoping Brandon will be well enough to attend Jason’s high school graduation coming up in a few weeks.

To the entire Quinn family, our prayers go out.

"It’s amazing that so many wonderful people have really come through," Marti said appreciatively.

A fund has been set up to help the family in their time of need. Please send your check to "Brandon Quinn," c/o First Federal Bank, 5701 N. Kanan Road, Agoura Hills, CA 91301.