Jonathan Sousa

HUDSON - When Andrew Swenson died Sunday of leukemia at the age of 7, his uncle, John Sousa, said he had no idea how to set up a memorial fund at the local bank in the family's name.

Yesterday, Sousa said, it's for reasons like that, and many others, that the foundation in his late nephew's name will live on.

"Whatever I've done for Andrew, it's only fair to do it for other families and other children," Sousa said of Andrew's Helping Hands Foundation, started by Sousa and a Swenson family friend two years ago."Whatever I've done for Andrew, it's only fair to do it for other families and other children," Sousa said of Andrew's Helping Hands Foundation, started by Sousa and a Swenson family friend two years ago.
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And while their emotional pain was prominent, what couldn't be hidden, Sousa said, was the constant financial burden that comes with caring for a sick child.

"(Andrew's parents) haven't worked a full week in the past five years," he said."It's been a tough road, trying to keep this little guy alive.Every minute was worth it but it's been draining.I'm happy that we've put as much effort into this and we will continue to put effort toward other kids."

Sousa said after watching Andrew's parents take a second mortgage out on their home to pay for a bone marrow drive in November 2000, he knew something needed to be done to not only help his relatives but to help all families that are in a medical crisis.
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Sousa said the recent roller-coaster ride with Andrew's health has put the foundation on hold, although it did receive its nonprofit status a few weeks ago.But the list of things left to do is long, he said, and includes picking a board of directors and getting a solid volunteer base that will work within local communities.

"I thought I had already learned about the foundation and what the needs were because Andrew was alive," Sousa said.
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Setting up the memorial fund was the first thing that came to mind but in addition, Sousa said, families in crisis need to know where to go locally, in their own towns, for assistance.

"I thought Andrew would be right by my side," Sousa said of Andrew's own plans, even at a young age, to reach out to other sick kids and their families once he felt better.
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"Its going to be better than ever before because now it's in Andrew's memory," Sousa said of the foundation.
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"He's in a better place," Andrew's father, John, his usually quiet voice a little quieter, said last night."Pain's all gone."
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John has run in the marathon three times and plans to do it again in January.

"I'll always run for Andrew ... " John said, his voice cracking before he broke into tears.
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"The only thing he didn't get to do, he couldn't play street hockey or soccer," John said.Andrew's medicine had weakened his bones to the point where he needed a wheelchair the last few months.
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That was until about a month ago, said Andrew's uncle, John Sousa, who Andrew called "Tio Joao," from their native Portuguese.
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"It's everywhere," Sousa said.
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"He's been holding on like a champ for his birthday," Sousa said.
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"He always wanted kids around," Sousa said.
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Jonathan later turned to his dad and said, "I know what Andrew's going to do (in Heaven) first.
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To help the Swenson family with medical and funeral costs (both parents have been out of work for more than a year), Sousa has established the Andrew Swenson Memorial Fund at Community National Bank, 17 Pope St., Hudson.
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Andrew's Helping Hands Foundation - a nonprofit organization started by Andrew's uncle when Zenaide and her husband, John, were so overloaded with medical bills they thought they'd have to declare bankruptcy - is holding a holiday reception in December for others going through similar struggles.
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"They needed the bills paid," Zenaide's brother John Sousa said of his sister and her family.
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The charity got its legal nonprofit status a few weeks ago, Sousa said.

"We'll help families with bone marrow drives and and give them financial assistance to help them with what they're going through," Sousa said.

Last September, Sousa asked the Xtreme Riders about whether it would help organize a run with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, of which he is a member.The Xtreme Riders had done other charity runs, including one for its Sgt.
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That's when I met Zenaide and John Swenson, Andrew's parents, as well as his uncle, John Sousa.
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John Sousa called me on my cell phone just as I was reaching for the phone to call him.

He told me the basics and put me in touch with Andrew's dad.
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At the conclusion of yesterday's service, Andrew's uncle, John Sousa, read from a poem he wrote.

"My little Jesus, your life filled with pain ... whoever you touched will never by the same," he said.

As Andrew's parents, John and Zenaide, and his 9-year-old brother, Jonathan, walked out of the church, everyone sang the words to "This Little Light of Mine," symbolically waving their index fingers in the air as kids often do during the children's Masses.As Andrew's parents, John and Zenaide, and his 9-year-old brother, Jonathan, walked out of the church, everyone sang the words to "This Little Light of Mine," symbolically waving their index fingers in the air as kids often do during the children's Masses.
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"He was great through everything," his father, John, said yesterday.
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His parents, who left their jobs to care for him, always tried to turn the lengthy hospital stays into adventures for Andrew and his 9-year-old brother, Jonathan - even pitching a tent in his room.
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Andrew's maternal uncle, John Sousa, who lives next door, put his own career on hold to organize bone-marrow drives, fund-raisers and a charitable foundation, Andrew's Helpful Hands (www.andrewshelpfulhands.org).
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"We need a minimum of 300 people to attend the celebration," said John Sousa, Andrew's uncle, who organized the first annual event.