Even though Boxford third-grader Kate Drohosky was only 3 when her grandfather passed away from cancer five years ago, she remembers John Drohosky well, and the special connection they had.
"I remember him as funny and nice," 8-year-old Kate said, her face lighting up as she talked about her grandpa. "He always used to sneak us pretzels from the pretzel jar, and jelly beans. We (Kate and her older sister, Lauren) played games with him, and we would watch TV and talk.
"He was fun to play with. We always laughed when we were with him," she said.
The memory of her grandpa prompted Kate to collect 50 teddy bears from her Boxford classmates last spring and bring them to patients at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Jimmy Fund Clinic in Boston. Collecting bears for cancer patients is a way for her to deal with the loss of her grandfather. This month, she's launched another collection, and hopes to bring 100 bears to the clinic.
Kate and her paternal grandfather were a lot alike, said Sandy Drohosky, Kate's mom.
"She used to try and make him giggle. One time, he had to leave the dinner table because she had gotten him laughing so hard. She knew just how to make him laugh," Sandy said. "They had this special little connection."
Kate said she and her grandpa shared "our silliness. We both have a sense of humor. We're both funny."
Kate's grandparents live in Poughquag, N.Y., a town outside of Poughkeepsie. The Boxford Drohoskys — Kate, Lauren, 11 and parents Sandy and Stephen — still visit New York five or six times a year.
This year, Kate received something very special from her grandmother for her birthday — a coin from her late grandfather's collection.
This month, Kate made a collection box and hung posters around Spofford Pond School, explaining the teddy bear collection and the memory of her grandfather. Her sister Lauren has been helping out, spreading the word amongst her fifth-grade classmates.
John Drohosky died in January 2003 after lung cancer spread to several other parts of his body. The family saw him for the last time at Christmas, a month before he died.
Sandy Drohosky said Kate became angry and grumpy after his death. She was deeply affected, the girl's mohter said.
In talking through the grief with Kate, she asked her daughter what she thought she could do to change things or help those with cancer.
"We talked about how you're never too little to do something to help," she said.
After that, Kate decided that if she had cancer, she would be scared and would want something to hold.
"One night at dinner I was really upset (after my grandfather died)," Kate said. "I wanted to help kids with cancer, and I knew they would like teddy bears because it's something they can cuddle with."
She collected 50 bears from the Cole School community and delivered them in person to the Jimmy Fund with her mother and sister last spring.
After dropping off the bears with Jimmy Fund staff, Lauren and Kate sat at a craft table for about an hour with patients, some with IVs and no hair from chemotherapy treatments. The girls had a great time, and learned from the experience, said Sandy Drohosky.
"It made me feel happy, and made (the patients) feel happy, to get something from a stranger they didn't even know," Kate said.
Sandy Drohosky said she immediately saw a difference in Kate after the Jimmy Fund visit. Now her daughter can talk about her grandfather without getting upset.
"It was like night and day. It just changed her," she said. "I couldn't have been prouder."
WANT TO HELP?
r New teddy bears can be sent in with students to Spofford Pond School, Boxford
r People also can e-mail Kate's mother, Sandy Drohosky, at Fourdrohos@comcast.net to make other arrangements.
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Meet Kate Drohosky
Kate, a third-grader at Spofford Pond School in Boxford, likes to play soccer, sing and play with her older sister, Lauren. The girls enjoy playing with the family dog, Bella, a 140-pound Newfoundland, and their cat, Cinnamon.
Kate is a big fan of the Jonas Brothers, an American pop-rock band from New Jersey made up of three brothers, Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas.
She has a wild side, but also a caring heart, said her mother, Sandy. "She's a character, a spitfire."
Eight-year-old Kate explained her teddy-bear mission in an e-mail to Spofford students and staff:
"My name is Kate Drohosky and I am in third grade at Spofford Pond School. I am collecting new teddy bears to be distributed to young cancer patients at The Jimmy Fund Clinic (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute). My grandfather died from cancer five years ago and I want to do something to help cancer patients. I decided to collect teddy bears to be distributed to children who are fighting cancer. Last year I delivered 50 new teddy bears and promised I would be back. I am hoping to add 20 more teddy bears this year. Your family can help by donating a brand new teddy bear. Please leave your new teddy bear in the bin located in the lobby at Spofford Pond School anytime between now and Friday, May 23. Thank you!"
