WSFA 12 News Montgomery, AL |Alabama Boy Needs Help in His Fight For Life

Alabama Boy Needs Help in His Fight For Life

Cheryl Gallagher is a busy working mom with a lot on her plate.  But ask her about her soon to be six year old nephew and her eyes light up.

Cheryl says, "JJ's going to play soccer. He played T-ball. He goes to school every day."

Short term plans for this bustling boy born two months early ... And he's been fighting illness all of his young life, now including a brain tumor.  His aunt adds, "And what makes this so terrible is that it sends out tentacles to intertwine themselves within the brain stem."

That makes the tumor inoperable, and the prognosis grim, when you look at statistics for children who die with this disease.

Cheryl says it's bad, "Most of them. I would venture to say 99% . It is a very, very evil disease."

Many in her position ask, why my family?

Gallagher says she's no exception, "I do. And I don't have an answer for it."

JJ's fight includes chemo and radiation.  Cheryl adds, "What he's going through, he's going through with such strength and he teaches me every day to live life to the fullest."

For this family ... strength is based on faith. She says, "Miracles happen every day, why can't it happen for JJ?"

Doctors at Cedars Sinai in California have temporarily accepted this North Alabama native for some experimental treatments.

His aunt adds,  "If he's accepted he will have to spend 6 weeks out there."

And so will his family which will cost a lot of money. So Cheryl continues to be a worker, a mom ... And an aunt who pushes fundraisers to help her nephew.

If you would like to help  J.J. and his family ... take part in the battle of the bands.... it will be

August 12th at the Train Station in Montgomery.   There are other events scheduled.  They include:

A poker run also on Saturday August 12th.  Pre register at  834-9890.

Draw Down August 12th. Drawing at 6:00 PM.

Bingo Begins at 10:00 AM.

Auction Begins at 1:00 PM.

Quilt Raffle Drawing at 5:30 PM.

The children's corner will feature games, clown, magic animal balloons, face painting and a "sale table."

Vendors will have toys, gourds, jewelry and more.

There will also be food.

The family is hoping to use the money raised to defray the cost while they go with J.J. for treatment.  They say most of all ..... they need your prayers.  

To help the family click here.

Reporter: Ashley Anderson