Son's battle inspires foundation's creation

MARLBORO — Through her young son's battle with cancer, Dena Sherwood has emerged as a fighter for other young children with critical diseases.

The Sherwood family of Marlboro has created the Arms Wide Open children's foundation which provides help to critically ill children and their families through monetary means, love and support.

Sherwood's son, William Sherwood Jr., 2, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer, a little over a year ago. Dena and William Sherwood were on vacation with their daughter, Sydney, 7, and the baby when they noticed something amiss in their son. Billy was having balance issues and the family cut the vacation short to find out what was wrong. The youngster was eventually diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

According to the American Cancer Society's Internet website, neuroblastoma is a form of cancer that occurs in infants and young children. It is rarely found in children older than 10. The cancer starts in young nerve cells called neuroblasts, which control functions like the heartbeat and blood pressure.

The Sherwoods' friends and family members came together in October 2008 to hold the Walk for Baby Billy and had 359 people participating in honor of the child.

Though Billy's cancer was once declared to be in remission, the disease returned, bringing with it more rounds of chemotherapy and a high-risk diagnosis for the toddler. The diagnosis was a setback, but Sherwood has faith that her son will get past this hurdle just as he did the last one.

The Sherwood family keeps their hopes up with the good news they receive on Billy's condition.

Earlier this month the Sherwoods received wonderful news — two paraspinal tumors that were scheduled for surgical removal had disappeared from Billy's body.

Sherwood said Billy is about halfway through his treatments. When she was interviewed on July 16, Sherwood said Billy was in a hospital having his fifth round of chemotherapy. On the horizon are more scans, 3f8 antibody treatments and then radiation treatments.

Although their life is hectic dealing with Billy's cancer, the Sherwoods have opened their hearts and a foundation to help others in need.

"When he was in remission I felt like we couldn't turn our backs on the disease and the kids and everyone we had met. We needed to do something," Sherwood said in explaining the family's decision to launch Arms Wide Open.

Sherwood said from the time she and her husband learned about Billy's disease, she felt there was a bigger reason and purpose. She believes that purpose was to establish Arms Wide Open and to help as many children and their families as possible.

"I knew it from the beginning, and I don't know why, I was never angry or mad. I just knew that this happened for a reason and it got me to where I am supposed to be," Sherwood said. Themission ofArmsWideOpen is to provide financial and emotional support to families of critically ill children and to fund medical research for pediatric cancers and improvements in chemotherapy and alternative therapies.

The not-for-profit corporation is an all-volunteer organization managed by family members and friends, dedicated to keeping overhead low, so that the greatest portion of every dollar raised goes toward the cause.

Each month Arms Wide Open selects a recipient, with any illness, who receives necessary help. Sherwood said so far the recipients have been children she has encountered at various hospitals. Typically a gift will be presented to the child and to the child's parents, Sherwood said.

"It's to help anybody in any way," she said.

Sherwood is glad to provide happiness to the children, even if it only lasts for a short while. The foundation's first recipient was a girl named Ah'Maya, who was fighting a battle with epithelioid sarcoma. Sherwood said the child was a fan of Disney princesses and she arranged for some of the girl's favorite characters to visit her in the hospital room.

The princesses played with Ah'Maya while she was up for it and when she needed to rest they entertained her with songs and sat by her side comforting her, Sherwood said.

"I saw her here in the hospital when we were here and I just felt like I had to do something. I couldn't just pass by and say hello. I felt like I needed to do something, I needed to bring joy to her," Sherwood said, adding that the girl had been in a lot of pain.

Sadly, Ah'Maya lost her battle and died in June.

Sherwood hopes to broaden the foundation's gifts beyond people she meets in the hospital. Anyone who may need help or knows someone who does is encouraged to fill out the one-page application found on Arms Wide Open's Internet website at www.awocf.com.

"If you walk down the hallways and see these kids laying there, your heart breaks. If you can bring joy for one day and make her smile for one day, that was enough for me," Sherwood said.

Sherwood said knowing firsthand the situation these other families are in, she wants to do all she can to help. After the tremendous support that was given to her family in Marlboro, Sherwood said she wants to pay it forward and offer whatever help she can.

"It's great to be able to help people in the same position," she said.

The foundation plans to make last year's successful walkathon an annual event to now raise money for Arms Wide Open. There are also fundraisers planned, including a dinner fundraiser on Sept. 13 at Gia Nina's Restaurant in Woodbury. More information on the upcoming events can be found on the group's website.

Sherwood said people ask her how she is able to help others when she, too, is going through the same challenging events. Sherwood said she has faith and knows her son will be OK, which helps her drive to assist others.

The "little warrior" himself is a constant source of strength for the whole family, Sherwood said. Billy's cheery disposition is constantly present. Even while a reporter spoke with Sherwood, the boy had to take medicine on top of an already upset stomach caused by the chemotherapy. Not long after taking the medicine, he started laughing and asked for some more of his breakfast.

"My husband always says (Billy) gives us strength by how strong he is. No matter how bad it is and you think it can't get any worse, (Billy) gets back up again smiling. He's a warrior," Sherwood said of her son.

Sherwood said her daughter, Sydney, recently announced that she wants to be a scientist so that she can help the children she has seen in the hospital with various diseases. There may even be a future doctor in the family because Billy walks around with a stethoscope and declares that he is a doctor, Sherwood said.

Meanwhile, she waits for the day that Billy's treatments will be a part of the past, but the Sherwoods will never forget and the family will continue to provide help for others.

Contact Rebecca Morton at marlboro@gmnews.com.