Enfield Elementary Student Fighting Neuroblastoma

ENFIELD, CT — Donovan Abbe is not your typical 9-year-old elementary school student. Despite missing most of this school year following diagnosis of a type of cancer, and enduring grueling sessions of chemotherapy and surgery, he remains upbeat and optimistic, always maintaining a positive attitude.

The fourth-grader from Eli Whitney School was diagnosed in October with neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that forms in nerve tissue. He recently completed his sixth round of chemotherapy, and the tumor along his spine was removed completely at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford about three weeks ago .

His mother, Melissa Muldoon, said he began showing symptoms just after the start of the new school year, which initially was thought to be a recurrence of Lyme disease. However, extensive tests indicated the presence of cancer.

"He's doing very well considering how hard this all this," she said, adding that more intensive treatment is just ahead. In late April, he will receive a stem cell transplant at Boston Children's Hospital, where he will remain for five weeks. After a three-week break, he will return there for five additional weeks.

"His isolation will last 60 days from his first transplant date. No one can come over to the house when his treatments are complete except his nurse, tutor and Uncle Sean," his mom wrote on his Facebook page, entitled "Donney's Page of Fun," which keeps friends and family up to date on his progress.

During Donovan's absence from classes, he is being tutored at home by Eli Whitney teacher Samantha Sugrue. His classroom teacher, Michele Zukowski, has maintained regular contact with him and his family, and his classmates have sent him letters, Christmas cards and Valentine cards.

His mother has had to take a leave of absence from work so she may tend to him and his younger brother, Caleb, while her husband is still working full time. With medical bills accumulating, her cousin, Lindsay Cunningham, has set up a GoFundMe account that currently has raised $13,405 toward its $20,000 goal.

Mary Long and Melissa Adams of the Bright Beginnings preschool organized a Foxwoods Casino bus trip as a fundraiser for Donovan. "The daycare kids made signs and posters that are all around my house," his mother said.

Zukowski, Sugrue and fellow Whitney teachers Marian Dippel and Andrea Tarbox , along with the school PTO, are organizing some events in honor of Donovan. Among them are family volleyball nights on April 23 (grade 3), April 24 (grade 4) and April 25 (grade 5), running from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. A Friday Bingo gathering is also being planned. #DonovanStrong T-shirts are being made, and will be sold for $10 apiece.

Caleb's school, Hazardville Memorial, "adopted" the family at Christmastime, according to his mom. She added, "When Donovan began losing his hair due to chemotherapy, people from all over the country sent him cards, hats and LEGOs."

"Donovan is extremely grateful for all the support," she said.

Photos courtesy of Melissa Muldoon