It may be rare, but it’s also real, and Issa Alovor has been bravely fighting it for almost five years. It is Pilocytic Astrocytoma grade I, a brain tumor located on Issa’s brain stem and spine. But he isn’t fighting alone.
Last weekend, Maplewood Richmond Heights Middle School Principal Mike Dittrich, choir teacher, Nick Urvan and director of Career Exploration and Apprenticeship Program, John Capuano jumped on their bikes and rode for Issa in this year’s Pedal the Cause.
Part of the 66-member Team Keeley, Dittrich, Urvan and Capuano each rode the 100 mile route which stretched from downtown St. Louis to St. Albans and back. All told, Team Keeley raised $24, 539 to benefit cancer research. It was a long ride, but Dittrich put the challenge in perspective.
“The ride is nothing compared to what kids go through during chemotherapy,” he said.
Issa has undergone rounds of chemotherapy and will finish the final round in early 2015.
“We don’t talk prognosis,” said Issa’s mother, Yoli Alovor. “He’ll finish chemo in January. The prognosis is hopeful.”
Despite years of treatment, Issa has maintained a 3.9 grade point average throughout middle school and continues to do well in high school. He’s also a budding artist with artwork on display and for sale at Flying Rolls with a portion of the proceeds going to Children’s Hospital art therapy program. Issa has spent a great deal of time at Children’s Hospital receiving treatment and undergoing rehabilitation to learn to walk again.
“He has such a positive spirit,” said Yoli. “He is an amazing artist and stays involved in church, helping the kids in Sunday school. He is my inspiration and the apple of my eye.”
Issa hasn’t just inspired his family. When he approached Dittrich about supporting the fight against cancer through Pedal the Cause, Dittrich was moved to act.
“I was inspired by Issa’s perseverance,” Dittrich said. So in 2013, Dittrich and Urvan pedaled the cause. This year they were joined by John Capuano and rode on a team sponsored by Keeley Companies, a local construction firm. Issa was thrilled.
“When I told my principal Mr. Dittrich about my efforts to raise money for cancer research he rallied around me!” Issa said. “Not only did he join but he built an MRH team! Now we all support our Pedal the Cause team.”
Pedal the Cause was successful again this year raising over $2.1 million. While the event is over, cancer patients including Issa, keep fighting. But they are not alone.
“I’ve found that there is a human element that binds us all together,” said Yoli reflecting on the support she has found in her church and community. “We all want our children to be happy and healthy. We share that element, that healing linkage.”
“I never used to know what ‘God can turn your trials into triumph’ meant until this health battle,” said Issa. “I’m so happy of the new family and friends I’ve met from Pedal the Cause!”