September 14, 2021 by Carol Britton Meyer
Lifelong Hingham resident Shawn Pierre, 13, is battling Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, yet he continues to remain in his usual good spirits and his faith in his recovery is strong.
After undergoing treatment at Boston Children's Hospital until last Saturday, Shawn is undergoing outpatient treatment at the Jimmy Fund Clinic at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Clinic is one of the world's premier centers for research and treatment for pediatric cancers.
"APL [a cancer of the blood] is a very rare and aggressive form of leukemia. We have only known Shawn has it for the last month and a half," his mother, Amylee Eastwick, told the Hingham Anchor. "He has been so mature and strong about this whole situation. We're Catholic and have a lot of faith, and he's been praying a lot and staying positive. He hasn't lost his personality or sense of humor, which is remarkable." Shawn is currently a student at the Catholic Academy in Quincy.
"He's a very sweet guy," said his grandmother, Ruth Eastwick. "He likes people, and he enjoys pulling pranks!"
His grandmother is hosting a fall craft sale benefit at 42 Fottler Rd. in Hingham this Sat., Sept. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as a show of support for Shawn. All proceeds will go toward his treatment and care.
The following weekend, on Saturday, Sept. 25 -- at the same location, during the same hours -- his grandmother will host another benefit featuring T-shirts bearing the "Shawn Strong" logo, the childhood cancer awareness ribbon, and a turtle, which his mother says is his trademark. Shawn's aunt, Michelle Eastwick, is spearheading the T-shirt project.
"The proceeds from both of these events will go toward expenses not covered by insurance," his mother said.
The Sept. 18 craft benefit will feature a variety of handmade items, many made by Shawn's grandmother. These include glass boxes decorated with positive words such as "grateful" and "blessed" that light up and are decorated with ribbon and a bow; "pumpkins" accented with scarecrows and filled with silk flowers; and decorative lighted signs bearing sayings such as "Welcome" and "Family -- where life begins and love never ends." There will also be birdhouses crafted by a friend of the family, "Shawn Strong" heart magnets, and other offerings.
Shawn's cousin, Hailey Cooper -- also a Hingham resident -- will be in charge of a lollipop drawing -- pick one from a jar and pay from 25 to 75 cents, depending on the color of the stick.
In trying to find a reason behind the challenge Shawn is facing, his mother said that she came to the conclusion that "this may be God's way of showing him that he is strong enough and capable of overcoming something extremely difficult. Shawn sometimes may doubt himself, and this experience will make him an even stronger person."
For more information or to purchase an item if unable to attend either event, email rsmile623@verizon.net.
If you would like to provide financial support to the family, you can Venmo them directly: @ruth-eastwick