By Nicole McLaughlin
Times Staff Writer

Ann Marie Anastasi remembers her little boy, Connell, as a lovable, calm toddler who was always willing to share. He never complained and would patiently wait for his turn, mom recalled.
He adored his siblings, Joseph, Eireann (pronounced Erin) and Brendan. Basketball and soccer were his favorite sports — so much so that during his hospital stays, he would shoot hoops through a small basketball net that was attached to his bed.
At just 2 years of age, Connell battled brain cancer for six months before losing his fight nearly 14 months ago.
Ann Marie and Joe Anastasi are determined to make sure their son’s spirit lives on.
They have established the Connell Anastasi Memorial Fund at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. His parents want to raise awareness about brain tumors and possibly prevent other parents from enduring the heartache that the Anastasis feel every day.
This week, May 5-11, is Brain Tumor Action Week. The observance is sponsored by the North American Brain Tumor Coalition, a group of charitable organizations that raises money for brain-tumor research and supports patients and families.
In conjunction with BTA week, St. Jerome’s CYO is sponsoring a basketball fund-raiser in memory of Connell.
Baskets Against Brain Tumors will be held on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ramp Playground, Rowland and Solly avenues. There will be basketball contests, food, music, and a Chinese auction with autographed Eagles and Flyers merchandise.
More than 500 children at St. Jerome’s also made cards, which Ann Marie Anastasi plans to distribute to sick youngsters at Children’s Hospital.
The Anastasis are grateful for the outpouring of support by their parish community.
“I was honored that they would do that, being that Connell wasn’t even a student there,” Anastasi said.
“It meant a lot to us because I think, as a bereaved parent, your main goal is to have your child remembered. That’s the most important thing to you. So by doing something like this, it says that people are remembering him and thinking about him.”
Pictures of the blond boy, with a big smile and cherub face, grace the walls of his family’s Mayfair home. His gentle nature seems to shine through.
Connell, who was named after his great-grandfather, was born on July 21, 1998 at a healthy 7 pounds, 3 ounces. However, at 4 months of age, he was diagnosed with exotrophia, or outward turning of the eyes. The problem was corrected with an operation at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in April 1999.
Connell was doing well, and he continued to grow and develop like any other toddler. But at age 2, things began to change.
In August 2000, he became irritable, didn’t want to eat and was vomiting. Connell had an ear infection at that time, and his mom initially attributed his behavior to that.
He then began to complain of pain above his right eye; his symptoms worsened.
“He would say, ‘Mommy, boo-boo, hurt’ and put his hand over his right eye,” his mom remembered.
Anastasi, who worked as a registered nurse at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, knew something was wrong and took him to the emergency room at St. Christopher’s.
“I just had a sick feeling,” she said. “I just started to put it all together, and it wasn’t a pretty picture. I just had a sick feeling that it was something more serious.”
On Sept. 10, 2000, Connell underwent a CT scan and an MRI exam, which revealed a tumor on his brain stem that was causing fluid to build in the brain. That evening, a temporary external shunt was inserted to drain the fluid.
Two days later, the youngster underwent surgery to remove the tumor. After eight hours, the family was told that the doctors were unable to remove all of it. The tumor was ruled benign, and chemotherapy was recommended to destroy the remaining cells.
The shunt was removed and Connell was discharged on Sept. 21. The Anastasis decided to go to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a second opinion.
On Oct. 17, 2000, they received the news every parent dreads: Connell’s tumor was found to be malignant. He was given a 30 to 40 percent chance of survival.
The child began receiving powerful doses of chemotherapy. He endured the aggressive chemotherapy every 21 days for five cycles.
“He really just went with the flow,” his mother said. “He was great. He didn’t complain at all.”
Connell completed the five cycles of chemo in the middle of February 2001. It wasn’t enough. On Feb. 21, he developed a fever and his parents took him back to Children’s Hospital.
Connell’s determination and strength couldn’t stop the infection. He died on March 20, 2001. Hand and foot impressions were made that day by the family, treasures that Ann Marie Anastasi keeps in her china closet.
Through the family’s ordeal, she has met other parents who have been through similar situations. Those friendships and the support of her family help Ann Marie get through each day.
She hopes that Baskets Against Brain Tumors raises money for research that might someday broaden the treatments available for young patients. Because Connell was under 3, he was too young to receive radiation.
According to the American Brain Tumor Association, about 2,200 children (those younger than 20) are diagnosed with brain tumors each year in the United States. Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer deaths in people under 20.
“It’s sad that the only thing they had to offer Connell was chemo,” Anastasi said. “I wish there was more that could have been done.”
Bea Devlin and other members of the board of directors at St. Jerome’s CYO also want to remember Connell. They hope the event shows the Anastasi family that they are in their thoughts.
“Ann Marie wants to keep Connell’s memory alive, and the board feels the same way,” Devlin said. “And we thought that this would be a great community effort for the kids to realize that they can help the community in other ways.”
In the event of rain, the Baskets Against Brain Tumors fund-raiser will be held at the Penncrisp Gym, at Holme Avenue and Academy Road. If you cannot attend the event but would like to contribute, donations can be sent to: Catherine Skinner, The Children’s Hospital Foundation, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Checks can be made payable to the Connell Anastasi Memorial Fund. For more information, call 215-624-9593 or visit www.connellanastasi.org