Parents give in honor of son who would have been 4

RALEIGH -- Today, Feb. 19, should be a day of celebration for the Seneri family of North Raleigh.

They should be blowing up balloons and frosting a cake to honor son Paxton's fourth birthday.

But Paxton didn't live to see this birthday. So instead of showering him with presents, his family is encouraging others to shower pediatric cancer patients with gifts as part of the Presents for Paxton campaign.

"It makes us so proud of him and that everything he went through doesn't have to be for nothing," said Christi Seneri, Paxton's mother. "His life, even though it was so short, had great purpose."

Paxton was diagnosed with a type of brain cancer known as medulloblastoma in December 2010. He spent 10 months in treatment at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. While he was there, friends of the family began a fundraising effort they named Fight Like Paxton to help the Seneri family with the financial burden.

Paxton lost his battle with cancer in October. But his parents have vowed to continue the work of Fight Like Paxton and provide help for other families dealing with pediatric cancer. The organization is now a registered 501(c)(3) charity, and Christi Seneri is its director.

"We are still grieving, but this is healing for us," Seneri said. "It's part of the healing process for us to be able to give to other people's lives. We've been blessed and it blesses us to bless others."

The Presents for Paxton toy drive is collecting items that can be used by young cancer patients at UNC and Duke. Seneri says Paxton was always delighted by any gift during his extended hospital stay. Suggested items for the collection are DVDs, Wii games, board games and bubbles.

The collection runs through the end of February. Collection points include The Tumble Gym at the Factory, the Dance Attic and Stony Hill Baptist Church.

"Paxton was a precious little boy that touched us all very deeply," said James Dew Jr., pastor at Stony Hill Baptist. "He fought his battle with courage and grace, but also reminded us that we must stand with those who suffer from such diseases."

Going forward

Seneri says the mission of Fight Like Paxton has evolved naturally in the few short months since her son died.

The organization is focused on supporting families with children with cancer. While that does include financial support, Seneri says families also need help with day-to-day tasks such as preparing meals and child care. And since Paxton has two siblings, there is a special place in her heart for the brothers and sisters of cancer patients who endure so much.

Fight Like Paxton accepts donations on its website. It has several ongoing fundraisers and a golf outing at Hasentree Country Club is planned for September.

Going back

As difficult as it is, Seneri visits the pediatric oncology department at UNC Hospitals.

At Christmas, she and her family delivered goodie bags and gift cards. And now she will return with donations of toys.

"It's hard for us to go to the hospital and see these other children that remind me so much of Paxton and everything he had to go through, but that's also what keeps us going, to be there for these families," Seneri said.

Some of the patients she knows from her days of being by Paxton's bedside. Others have arrived since they left. But she says they are all connected.

"There is a bond with other parents that are going through this because as much as you try to imagine it being your own child, you can't understand it unless you've been through it."

Seneri says she has relied on faith, friends and family, in North Carolina and in her husband's native Pennsylvania, to make it through. Now she wants to give that back to others who don't have the same support.

"With everything that Paxton had to go through, we had to let the good come out of it because there are so many others who are still suffering."