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12 | August 31, 2017 | The highland park landmark news
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A 22ND CENTURY MEDIA PUBLICATION
Landon
From Page 11
Melinda Dragicevich, Landon’s mother, embraces her
son. claire esker/22nd century media
appearance and then received
a special send off
where law enforcement
dotted a portion of Waukegan
Road as he made his
way back to his father’s
home in Lake Bluff.
“I’m just happy that everyone
can come and my
family is going to be there
and hopefully some of my
friends can come,” Landon
said before the event.
His mother said Landon
is thankful to have support
from the community.
“Landon is happy and
excited to do things and
see everyone,” she said.
“He is overwhelmed with
the outpouring of love and
support and he is thankful
for everyone.”
The benefit capped what
has been a difficult few
months for Landon, who
seemingly was living the
normal life of a child until
March, when he started
experiencing seizures out
of nowhere.
His family reported he
was treated for the seizures,
and for nearly three
months there were no subsequent
problems until
the morning of Memorial
Day when his stepmother,
Becky Marsh, found him
in his room unable to talk.
After being admitted to
a local hospital, Landon
came home only to be
struck by a third set of
seizures in June. He was
airlifted to the Cleveland
Clinic in Cleveland,
which known for its pediatric
neurology department.
In late June at the
Cleveland Clinic Landon
and his family received
the diagnosis of Anaplastic
Astrocytoma, which is
described as a Grade III
tumor according to the
American Brain Tumor
Association.
Marsh said the tumor
has spread to the entire
left side of his brain, rendering
surgery impossible.
To fight the tumors,
Landon is taking oral chemotherapy
by taking five
pills every day and radiation
sessions took place
over the summer. He returned
to school and is on
a two week break from
oral chemotherapy.
The family senses a
positive attitude from
Landon, despite the overwhelming
situation.
“He is handling everything
very well,” Travis
said.
Travis acknowledged
some tough days these
past few weeks, but is not
downtrodden.
“Everybody is very
hopeful, but with the rarity
of the type of brain cancer
the prognosis is not
great, but with the way he
has been responding the
doctors are very hopeful,”
he said.
While the circumstances
that brought everyone
to the event were difficult,
there was a sense of determination
among many
at the benefit to support
Landon and their fellow
public safety colleagues.
“It is an amazing cause
to support a young boy
who has struggled quite a
bit,” said Aaron Towle, a
Lake Bluff Village Board
Trustee, who is also a
volunteer member of the
community’s fire department.
“It is a very eclectic
group of people. Of course
a cause like this generates
so much support and I am
so glad to see it.”
During a difficult time
the Dragicevich family
was thankful for the support
of the community.
“If this did not restore
your faith in humanity, I
am not sure what will,”
Melinda said.