Leonardo's Story

Leonardo's Story

Leonardo “Lenny” Passantino (age 7), the youngest of DLP Board President Dante Passantino and his wife Beth’s four children, was diagnosed in July of 2017 with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma.  Neuroblastoma is a form of cancer that starts in the nervous system affects children of Lenny’s age.  

From the onset of Leonardo’s diagnosis, our faith in God, his physicians, nurses, staff, medicines, the power of positive thought and most of all our faith in Lenny and his ability to fight and defeat this nasty disease has given all of us the confidence needed to win this battle.  

Over the past 11 months, Lenny, with the entire Passantino Family and many friends and supporters by his side, has successfully completed 6 cycles of intense chemotherapy, surgery to remove his primary tumor, 2 stem cell transplants, 15 sessions of radiation and is now in the middle of 6 cycles of immunotherapy to hopefully snuff out the last of his cancer once and for all.  All of Lenny’s treatments have been under the care of his physicians at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO and he is responding well to the myriad of therapies he has endured.  

Leonardo’s strength and spirit is stronger than ever as he enters the final stretch of his treatment protocol.  After experiencing all the ups and downs of childhood cancer treatment, our family and the DLP Board of Directors has made the announcement that we will now support the Hematology/Oncology Department at Children’s Mercy as well as the Burn and Trauma Unit.  

Our goal is to deliver necessary funds and support to the patients and families being treated for cancer at CMH during their stay.  The support will include, but not be limited to meals, equipment, and child-life enhancements and experiences for the patients.