July 31st 2012, Anthony Mustari was diagnosed with Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm -a rare type of Leukemia, or cancer of the blood. This horrific news came just two months after he graduated from Prairie Ridge.
While at Prairie Ridge, Anthony played numerous sports before becoming an avid superfan, the highlight of which was when the school won the State Championship for football in 2011. Since the rare diagnosis Anthony has had two out of three rounds of Chemo, some radiation and has a bone marrow transplant planned for October.
Despite all of this however, when asked how he is, Anthony responds “Pretty good.”
Hailey Kenney, the mother of one of Anthony’s friends and the founder of Miracles for Moose adds that “Anthony is doing great and is the same happy go lucky teenager he always has been. He doesn’t complain, is very grateful for any help that is given to him and his family, and takes every day and every complication as it comes, which I think says a lot of what kind of young man he is.”
Miracles for Moose’s “mission is to help Anthony and his family with medical expenses and anything else Anthony may need to beat this cancer.”
On September 18th at Buffalo Wild Wings, the Chicago Bears football player, Nick Roach, signed autographs for a small fee which went to the foundation. In addition, Buffalo Wild Wings donated 15% of the food profit to the foundation. By the end of the night Roach doanted his signing fee back to the foundation.” Nick also plans on visiting Anthony when he has his transplant in October.
On Friday September 28th at the Penny Road Pub Anthony’s brother will host a concert. All of the door fees will go to the foundation with some silent auction and raffle items as well.
The third fundraiser will be at Nick’s Pizza and Pub on Wednesday, November 21st, where 15% of the sales will go to Miracles for Moose.
September is Leukemia awareness month and Miracles for Moose is working to have people register to become bone marrow donors, since a bone marrow donation is what many Leukemia patients need to get better. Visit National Marrow Donor Program’s website Be the Match for more information on how to help.