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Boy, 7, Inspires Cancer-Fighting Superhero

by Amy Hatch (Subscribe to Amy Hatch's posts)
Oct 12th 2009 9:00AM

2Comments

Filed under: In The News, Amazing Kids, Amazing Parents

A 7-year-old boy fighting brain cancer has been immortalized in his own comic book, like the one that inspired the 1978 film "Superman," starring the late Christopher Reeve. Credit: AP

A comic-book character, inspired by a 7-year-old boy's courageous, two-year battle with brain cancer, will help other children who are fighting the disease.

Dominic Osorio doesn't know he has brain cancer. Instead, Nicole Spagna told her son that he is a superhero, The Dominator, battling an evil enemy he calls a megazoid, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Dominic's story and his fight against the tumor growing in his brain inspired the community of Bel Air, Md., to rally around the child.

Dave Anderson, manager of a local restaurant frequented by Dominic and his family, was so moved by the tale of The Dominator that he contacted a publisher. Anderson and Getz-Calandra Productions put together an illustrated book based on Dominic's fight against cancer. Anderson paid nearly $9,000 to create, copyright and publish 2,000 copies of "The Dominator." So far, according to the Sun, nearly 1,000 copies have been sold and proceeds from the sales go toward children's cancer research."The more I got into this, the more I knew it was a powerful thing," he told the Sun. "I am dedicating 'The Dominator' to making sure that kids like Dominic have everything they need."

Meanwhile, Dominic's tumor continues to grow, and his family is keeping a vigil at his bedside at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

"His eyes are not open, but he knows we are all there," his grandmother, Monique Spagna, told the Sun. "He has been fighting for two years, and he is still fighting. He always told us to believe. We are still hoping there is one more treatment to try."

Nicole Spagna told The Sun that she wants her son's story to help other kids dealing with cancer, and his grandmother has also vowed to establish a hospice dedicated just to children and their families. She will also continue to raise money for children's cancer research, as a tribute to her brave grandchild.

"In my heart, I know Dominic has made a big difference and has shown that he is a caring person," Monique Spagna told the newspaper. "I am still praying for a miracle for him. I believe in miracles."

Related: Dads Fight for Parental Rights Dressed Like Superheroes, Parents Marry at Son's Funeral

Tags: cancer research, CancerResearch, childhood cancer, comic books, kids

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