Brotherly Love: Remembering Noxah

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- One of two boys with leukemia whose story inspired a Brotherly Love segment on CBS 3 in May has died.

Thirteen-year-old Noxah Palomo of Delaware died Saturday morning. This spring, his friend and fellow leukemia patient Sammy Bradly of Newtown Square started a bone marrow drive hoping to save his friend's life. Sammy and Noxah met while being treated for the same disease at Nemours A.I. duPont Hospital for Children.

"They just became a team. They became the dynamic duo," Noxah's mom, Peggy, said in May.

Since his passing, a Facebook page dedicated to Noxah Palomo has filled with prayers and good wishes: http://www.facebook.com/pages/NOXAH-PALOMO-WARRIOR-

Through a family friend, the Palomo family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the B+ Foundation. The foundation's founder, Joe McDonough, helped Sammy organize the bone marrow drive for Noxah.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 13, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road in Wilmington. Mass will be held Thursday, October 14, at 10 a.m. at St. John the Beloved, 907 Milltown Road in Wilmington.

RELATED LINK:
B+ Foundation: http://www.bepositive.org/

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Brotherly Love: Boy Hosts Bone Marrow Drive For Best Friend

May 26, 2010

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- When it comes to bone marrow transplants, it only takes one person to be the perfect match. The trick is finding that person. In today's Brotherly Love, a young man is trying to help his friend fight cancer. They're only 13 years old, but these two young men have gone through a lot together. Now one is trying to help the other beat cancer.

Last year, 13-year-olds Noxah Palomo of Delaware and Sammy Bradly of Newtown Square met at Nemours A.I. duPont Hospital for Children. Both boys had leukemia.

"He was like a baseball player, and we played the same positions," said Sammy.

"He ended up getting sick on the field, I ended up passing out and having a seizure," said Noxah.

"They just became a team. They became the dynamic duo," said Noxah's mom, Peggy.

Noxah and Sammy were treated and released. But Noxah's cancer has come back "in his brain, all through his spinal fluid and his bone marrow," said Peggy.

Noxah is back in the hospital, waiting for a bone marrow transplant. But finding a match is difficult. Noxah says Sammy helps him get through it

"He's the only person I can really discuss what I'm going through," said Noxah.

But Sammy is doing much more. He says he wants to save his friend's life. Sunday, June 13, he's hosting "Hit A Homer, Become A Donor," a carnival and bone marrow drive.

"Other kids need my help, and they don't have the power and they can't get it out there that they need a transplant," said Sammy.

Joe McDonough of the B+ Foundation is helping Sammy organize the drive.

"The drive that Sammy is doing may generate a match for a child in San Diego, and there may be a drive in Utah that generates a match for Noxah," said McDonough.

And it won't cost you a dime for Sammy's carnival and bone marrow drive.

Noxah says he's grateful to have such a good friend.

"Just keep thanking him for all the support and love that him and his family and friends have given me," said Noxah.

"Hit A Homer, Become A Donor" Bone Marrow Drive
Sunday, June 13, 2010
9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Flanigan Center
Newtown Edgmont Little League Fields
Bishop Hallow Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073
(Rain date: Saturday, June 19, 2010)

According to organizers, potential donors will be asked for a simple health history and the insides of their cheeks will be swabbed, a process expected to take 20 minutes.

REPORTED BY: Dave Huddleston