The US National Soccer Team Players Association joins the family, friends, and all of those working to find a cure for Leukemia and blood related cancers in honoring the memory of Aidan O’Malley. Aidan and his family are what’s best about soccer in the United States. But more than that, Aidan was a remarkable young man who will be missed not only by those who knew him, but those who knew his story.
Aidan’s Original Time In Profile
Eight-year-old Aidan O’Malley has a special connection to the U.S. National Soccer Team. His father, Hughie O’Malley, is Manager of Sports Medicine with the U.S. Soccer Federation, and, through Hughie’s work, the entire O’Malley family has spent a tremendous amount of time with the U.S. National Team Players. When Aidan O’Malley was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of five, he was lucky to have the support of many soccer players and other U.S. Soccer administrators. Aidan’s mother, Lynne, credits the U.S. Soccer community for offering the family a support system during one of the hardest times in their lives.
By a strange coincidence, Aidan was diagnosed with ALL on his father’s birthday, March 19, 2001. He and his mother were baking a cake for that evening, when Aidan pointed out several small red spots that he had all over his skin. He had been running a fever on and off for several days, and also was experiencing a significant amount of bruising. On a visit to the pediatrician that day, it was critically recommended that Aidan be taken to the children’s hospital. Blood tests confirmed his pediatrician’s fears: Aidan had leukemia. He was admitted on the spot and doctors began chemotherapy that night.
“That day will never be forgotten by my husband and me,” says Aidan’s mom, Lynne O’Malley. “We started a normal day by making a cake, and ended up in the hospital, informed that our child had cancer. That was three years ago. The diagnosis was ALL, and the prognosis was very good from the start. Aidan had a 90 percent chance of beating the disease through a two and a half-year chemo and radiation protocol. Even though he went through those two and a half years tired and sick, he was determined to do what needed to be done.”
As Lynne explains, Aidan is mature beyond his years. From the very beginning, he assumed a very ‘businesslike’ approach to the disease and his treatment. He wanted to know just what had to be done, and went through the taxing processes of chemotherapy and radiation with minimal fuss. Lynne and husband, Hughie, made a pact on that first night when Aidan was diagnosed. They decided that no matter what, they were going to make the uncertain and sometimes frightening experience into an adventure for Aidan.
‘Aidan understood what was occurring on a day to day basis, but he wasn’t aware of (and didn’t need to know) the big picture,’ explains Lynne. “It is so hard to explain to a child why chemo makes him sick but it is necessary to making him better. As parents, we struggled with comprehending the impact of the treatment. But we convinced ourselves to make the medical process fascinating for him, in a way like the animated series The Magic School Bus. We wanted to take away the sense of fear involved with the whole situation, and I think that’s what carried him through those two and a half years. For example, on a day when Aidan felt able to leave his hospital room, we had a scavenger hunt on the oncology floor. Even the doctors and nurses joined in.” With so much down time, Aidan became a proficient reader. He tackled the Harry Potter series, which served as another mental escape.
For two and a half years Aidan proved his mettle with ALL. He spent countless nights in the hospital, had to miss many school days, and often played soccer amidst his bloated and uncomfortable condition from chemo and steroids. More than anything he wanted to maintain his normal activities despite feeling lousy. Players and friends understood. He remained clear-headed and strong throughout the entire experience.
“Aidan is focused and matter-of-fact about things,” says Lynne. “This whole process has made him grow up quickly. He’s beyond his years, having dealt with all of this stuff. He is a kid, but is extremely perceptive and intuitive. He doesn’t want anything sugarcoated and he avoids special attention. He wants to have it out straight, whether you’re his doctor or his parent. Do what you have to do, get it over with, and move on. That’s his philosophy, and it’s indicative of his personality. There’s an unbelievable drive in him, fueled by his competitive nature. He’s a fighter. He fought to regain the life of normalcy that he lost. That drive is what has carried him through although he has a deep compassion for others who suffer.”
Unfortunately, Aidan O’Malley and his family would be thrown for another loop in their experience with leukemia. During the fall of 2003, it seemed that life was back on track for the O’Malleys. The kids were back in soccer, Aidan was adjusting well in school and feeling well, until a routine check-up four months after the protocol had ended revealed that Aidan had relapsed. Lynne and her husband were stunned.
“One of the hardest things about a relapse is that you never know what caused it,” says Lynne. “I remember on that day, the doctors took a long time to come back in with the routine blood test results. Once they presented the devastating news, they then told us that the only hope was a transplant. But their success with Aidan’s type of needed transplant wasn’t good. It was a big kick in the stomach to be told that your son’s chances to live were slim. After days of despondence and disillusion, we regrouped and decided to find a place that would give us hope.”
At this point, the O’Malley’s began to consider every available option for Aidan. Hughie availed of his professional contacts, who then guided the O’Malleys to second opinions. Lynne describes how she spent night after night reading about specific transplants, including the less intensive stem cell transplant procedure, which was the only option offered at their hospital. However, after much deliberation, the O’Malleys elected to go with a full bone marrow transplant. The confident approach from doctors at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee convinced them of hope for Aidan. Even though a full bone marrow transplant involved more risk, there appeared a better chance for transplant success. Thankfully, Aidan’s younger sister Jennifer turned out to be an exact bone marrow match, something very valuable in terms of transplant success and recovery.
“We were reading, and learning, and digesting all of this information along with heavy emotion,” explained Lynne, talking about the days following Aidan’s relapse. Hughie and I cried in our pillows each night but tried to stay positive for Aidan. Once we decided collectively to go with the transplant in Milwaukee, we were ready to take the leap.” By February of this year (2004), Aidan was admitted and they had begun the transplant procedure. “Jennifer being an exact match was a huge gift. We were not expecting that. At the age of only five, this little girl gave her big brother the option to live. The actual procedure to extract marrow from her hips was relatively easy, involving a 24-hour hospital stay. She recovered in a hospital room a few doors away from Aidan. The time from her marrow extraction to its infusion in Aidan was emotionally powerful. I can’t put it into words.”
Aidan spent over a month in hospital isolation following the transfusion because of his new, delicate immune system. The U.S. Soccer Federation allowed Hughie to take the necessary time to be with the family in Milwaukee (a one and a half-hour drive from the O’Malley’s home outside of Chicago). Many of the players heard about Aidan’s relapse and transplant and sent jerseys or other autographed items to him in the hospital. There was also a fundraiser held for the O’Malley family, and many players donated items to this event as well.
“Aidan would always wear a jersey in the hospital, every day,” said Lynne. “That was his comfort factor. Players from the Men and Women’s National Teams would send emails, cards and check-in. So many players rallied behind us. It’s really wonderful to see high profile individuals taking time to give to someone having trouble. It meant a lot to us as a family that we had the support of the soccer community during such a challenging time.”
Aidan, currently over 120 days out of his transplant, is gaining strength every day. He hopes to be involved again with his local soccer team, The Tri-City Celtics, who would play every game ‘In Honor of Aidan’ during his time in the hospital. Lynne and Hughie admit that they’ve learned more than they could ever imagine through this experience.
“It’s changed our outlook on life. As a family, we are incredibly close and we cherish every single moment of the day. We’ve been very fortunate to have such a wonderful support system of friends, family and ‘unknowns’. Having grown up in Ireland, Hughie has attracted the support from people there and beyond. Illness is global but it is special to know that players, U.S. Soccer, and the USNSTPA are willing to raise awareness of leukemia. In due time, we ourselves will be ready to similarly help those affected by the disease and give back the blessings that have come our way.”
In closing, Lynne relates that she and Hughie have taken a philosophical approach to life and cross their fingers that things will stay in check. “There was no option other than getting through this tough journey. We had to get from one side of the cliff to the other, in one big leap. You could say that we are a ‘goal-oriented’ family in more ways than one.”
In December, 2005, Aidan began a new course of chemotherapy to combat a relapse of Leukemia. In late January, 2006, he was hospitalized. Aidan’s condition worsened, and by early February, the doctors made it clear to Aidan and his family that recovery was unlikely. As his mother wrote: “With great dignity and grace, our Aidan peacefully left us this evening. We are thankful that he is finally free.
