PITTSBURGH — Friday night at Montour High School's football game versus Chartiers Valley, fans on both sides of the field stood together as superheroes for Charlie Rowe, who courageously battles a rare form of pediatric cancer called alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.
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One among those in attendance supporting Charlie Friday night was Madelina DeLuca, a young girl dealing with her own battle against acute myeloid leukemia.
“We’ve known Charlie for a while now from treatment and we’re just happy to be here to support,” said Chris DeLuca, Madelina’s father. “It was great to see the school districts come out to support.”
DeLuca found herself receiving similar support over the past year when a local hockey team raised money for her and again when a photo of her and another patient overlooking Pittsburgh from outside a Children's Hospital window went viral.
“It’s still a surreal feeling every time I see the picture,” DeLuca said. “I look at it every once in a while, just to sit back and reflect.”
As far as Madelina, her worst days appear to be behind her. She told Channel 11's Tony Atkins that she was looking forward to a trip to Disney World.
“I’m going to see Mickey,” said Madelina.
As far as her health, Madelina is doing fine these days, according to her father. Throughout the game, Madelina was seen running around and playing with cheerleaders.
“Madelina’s been a typical 2-year-old,” said DeLuca. “She’s running around, being happy and just being a normal 2-year old.”
According to DeLuca, they still visit doctors to check Madelina's progression and results are very positive.