Monthly Newsletter—February 2011 Edition - Spokane Police ...

Spokane Police Officer Tony Lamanna was recently diagnosed with a life By: Jennifer DeRuwe
threatening condition known as Light Chain Deposition Disease. Many of you
may recognize Tony from his extremely active role in the Inland Northwest Honor Flight
program; which Tony is a co-founder of the local chapter.
Sgt. Kevin Huddle, Ofc. Rick Atkins, Tony, Ofc. Erin
Raleigh and Ofc. Frank Erhart shaved their heads
as a tribute of support for Tony.
As a course of treatment, Tony recently underwent
two days of chemotherapy and then a stem cell
transplant. The transplant process allowed doctors
to administer Tony’s own healthy stem cells back
into his blood system, once the immune system
had been completely depleted. The hope is for the
healthy and immature stem cells to be introduced
back into the circulatory system and re-create the
new and healthy bone marrow.
By the end of January, Tony’s immune system is
coming back alive and his white blood cells are on
the rise. He has been released from the hospital
and is recovering at home. Tony has been a strong
and focused warrior in his fight against cancer, and
the love and support from his family at SPD is a
tribute to his strength.
Friends and family searched for an outlet for
community members to express themselves to
Tony. Traditionally, people want to express their
thoughts and compassion by sending “Get Well” flowers, candy or gifts while patients are in the hospital, but
sadly Tony was in such a fragile and vulnerable condition he wasn’t able to accept these gifts.
Tony is an avid WWII fanatic, educating himself about every minute detail of war trivia. He spends every
birthday watching WWII movies, established the Inland Northwest Chapter of Honor Flight and has converted
the majority of his home to be his own personal tribute and memorial to WWII veterans. Tony has
researched and embarked on two personal vacations in which travelers tour through the WWII Atlantic
theater of war as well as the Pacific Theater. He
expressed to friends the last tour he would like to
experience is the “Stephen Ambrose Italian
Campaign” which is a tour of the lower Atlantic
Theater. The cost of such a trip is between $3000
and $4000. Members of the Spokane Police
Department rallied and donated $3476 to Tony so
that once he is healthy, he can experience the tour.
The trip will serve as an awesome reminder for Tony,
as an up and coming cancer survivor, of the challenge
he faced and conquered, and a humbling
opportunity to remember the amazing men and
women who bravely fought for this great county,
which blessed Tony with the medical technology
to overcome his battle with cancer.
Tony has been greatly humbled by the outpouring of support during his time of need. Words cannot express
Tony’s appreciation for the acts of kindness shown by members of the Spokane Police Department.