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Community Corner

BFFs Step Up for Teen with Cancer

Amador Valley sophomore gets support from Pleasanton community as she battles "Lucky Mia."

Everyone should have friends like those of Kaitlin Gallagher. And vice versa.

Kaitlin, 15, a sophomore at Amador Valley High School, was diagnosed last month with stage four leukemia — or "Lucky Mia," as her disease was dubbed to make it easier for her little brother to understand.

"I know her really well and she's honestly like an angel," said Kortnie Maxoutopoulis, 17, a longtime friend.

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Despite receiving a hard, fast, frightening cancer diagnosis, Kaitlin still thought of others, Kortnie said.

"People are bawling, and she's like, 'Here, have a tissue,'" she said.

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Knowing her long, lush hair would eventually be lost to chemotherapy, Kaitlin sought the silver lining to that cloud.

"She cut off her hair and donated it," Kortnie said.  

Kortnie is among a myriad of Pleasanton teens and community supporters now rallying for Kaitlin.

After her initial chemotherapy treatments at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco, Kaitlin returned two weeks ago to "welcome home" signs and a front yard blanketed with candy Peeps, a gift from her "peeps."  

Her softball team declared a recent Saturday "Kaitlin Gallagher Day," with workers' proceeds from the snack bar donated to her medical expenses.

There have been hospital visits, cards, handmade blankets, a Twisted Silver jewelry party in her honor, a meal train organized and rubber bracelets being sold for $2 apiece.

All the while, the teen is chronicling this unexpected journey of hers with insight, poise, courage and maturity on her blog, "Kaitlin's Lucky Mia." 

"It chokes you up," said Christine Hoopes of Pleasanton, a friend of the Gallagher family that includes, along with Kaitlin, her parents, her 14-year-old sister and 9-year-old brother. 

"Lucky Mia" was a term Kaitlin's parents settled on to make the diagnosis a tad gentler for Kaitlin's brother, Hoopes said.  

"It also was a much more positive term than leukemia was," Kaitlin writes in her blog.  "Since that day it has stuck within our family.  'Mia' can also be translated to 'my' in Italian.  Given the prognosis and the great doctors, I am fortunate to be able to fight this, making me 'Lucky.'"

"Kaitlin's just a rock. She's such an inspirational individual," said Kortnie's mother, Terri Maxoutopoulis, who was Kaitlin's sponsor for her confirmation ceremony last weekend through the Catholic Community of Pleasanton

"We had to wait for her blood count (results) to make sure she could go to that large of an event," Maxoutopoulis said. "And she was singing and praying. She's just an incredible gal."

While Kaitlin returned to UCSF yesterday for more chemotherapy, her supporters are planning a giant fundraiser.

The Maxoutopoulises, Hoopes and teens from and high schools are spearheading "Jump for Kaitlin!" — scheduled 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 30 at Rockin' Jump, a new trampoline park opening in Dublin. 

When Kaitlin's schoolmates began discussing possible fundraisers, Sue Wilson, a family friend, leaped at the chance to offer her new business, Rockin' Jump, as the site.

"Her friends are amazing," Wilson said. "Our goal is, we want to sell out."

Wilson, along with her husband, Drew, and partners Marc and Michelle Collopy of Pleasanton, are opening Rockin' Jump, an indoor trampoline park off Dublin Boulevard on May 27.

"Jump for Kaitlin!"   will be one of its first events. Wilson said 50 percent of proceeds from that day will go to the Gallagher family.

Tickets are $12 for one hour of jump time. They are being pre-sold through Rockin' Jump and at the high schools through individual students. Rockin' Jump can book 130 guests per hour.

Further details can be found on a Facebook event page, titled "Jump for Kaitlin!"

Alexis Faria is the student contact at Amador Valley for ticket sales.

Kortnie, a senior at Foothill, and sophomore Cody Shields are selling to the Foothill High community.

Those interested can also email Kortnie at kmaxout2@yahoo.com

In addition, tickets can be purchased through Rockin' Jump's web page under the "Book Jump Time" heading and the May 30 date, or by emailing Wilson at sue@rockinjump.com.

Wilson and her Rockin' Jump colleagues are accepting donations from area businesses for raffle prizes for Kaitlin's fundraiser.

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