She’s constructing some good on the earth.
A Lengthy Island teen most cancers survivor is delivering some pleasure and constructive power to youngsters combating comparable diseases with a Lego drive with tons of of donated toys.
“Some days, it was exhausting simply to take a seat up. Enjoying with Lego motivated me to truly do one thing all through the day,” Lido Seaside resident Reese Gallinaro,16, mentioned of her two fights with Leukemia. “Such a giant a part of remedy is getting up as an alternative of mendacity in mattress all day — there’s simply not many issues which are motivating, however Lego was one among them.”
Gallinaro was handled at Memorial Sloan Kettering the primary time when she was simply 4 years previous, after which once more throughout an unlucky relapse from when she was 9 till 11.
“It actually grew to become an escape for her the second time,” Reese’s mom, Joanna Gallinaro, 43, mentioned. “If she would say one thing like ‘my arm hurts,’ I might simply hand her one other bag.”
The second stint concerned way more aggressive remedy that fatigued the younger fighter considerably greater than the earlier bout. On prime of that, she needed to miss practically her whole fourth-grade 12 months whereas at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
“I used to be immunocompromised so I used to be in isolation quite a bit, my pals had been actually simply my nurses and household. So I wanted to maintain myself occupied quite a bit,” Gallinaro mentioned. “I will need to have constructed a minimum of 50 units. I really like ‘Harry Potter,’ so I might placed on one of many films as I constructed my massive Hogwarts Fortress. It made such a distinction for me.”
Now, as a highschool junior who has been cancer-free for shut to 6 years, she needs to pay it ahead.
On the finish of 2024, Gallinaro organized a Lego drive for Memorial Sloan Kettering’s youngsters, which is being collected in any respect Lengthy Seaside colleges, Metropolis Corridor and the close by Vibrant Eye Beer Co.
“After I used to be lastly capable of comprehend that I’m protected, the very first thing I considered was all the opposite youngsters within the hospital,” Gallinaro, who has helped increase hundreds prior to now for most cancers, advised The Submit.
“Then I actually began interested by, ‘effectively, what can I personally do?’ I knew it needed to be one thing with Lego. It will possibly change the battle for therefore many youngsters.’”
Thus far, tons of of locals have contributed, and on account of excessive demand, her household pushed again the deadline.
“I do know this can be a very tight neighborhood, however the outcomes even shocked me,” mentioned Gallinaro, whose house is presently crammed to the brim with donations.
Specifically, she is most enthusiastic about giving the kids Lego flower bouquets to brighten up their hospital rooms.
“It’s coming from exterior Lengthy Seaside, too, we’re getting donations from throughout. That is so heartwarming to see.”
In the meantime, Lego is even personally doing issues for Gallinaro as a younger grownup.
“Enjoying with them has made me wish to turn into an architect,” she mentioned. “I’ll at all times have a robust connection to Lego.”
Gallinaro’s assortment ends on Saturday, Feb. 8, and will be purchased on-line via Amazon as effectively.
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