Article about Dennis in the local paper
Benefit planned for youth baseball league leader, Dennis Stewart, who has brain cancer
By Katie Hetrick, Press & Guide Newspapers
PUBLISHED: July 15, 2007
DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Friends of Dennis Stewart are hoping the community will step up to the plate to support the youth baseball enthusiast as he battles brain cancer.
Stewart, president of the North Dearborn Heights Baseball League, was diagnosed this spring with an aggressive form of brain cancer, said family friend Shannon Goenner.
The dire news came only weeks after his wife, Ann, had spinal surgery in March that forced her to stop working for a while.
"Everything happened all at once for them," Goenner said.
Now, the baseball community is holding a fund raiser for the family from 1-6 p.m. Sunday at Parkland Park off Ann Arbor trail between Outer Drive and Evergreen in Dearborn Heights.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. The day will include food, beverages, a dunk tank, children's games, carnival games and a tin-can auction. Those attending are encouraged to bring baseball gloves for a pick-up game of softball.
Gray bracelets supporting the battle against brain cancer and gray T-shirts saying "Friends of Dennis" will also be for sale, said Michelle Doumont, who knows the Stewart family through baseball.
"It should be a fun day to raise money," Doumont said.
Stewart grew up in Dearborn Heights, and his father, Dave, is a retired Dearborn Heights police officer, Doumont said. Before Dennis became ill, he worked as a manager at Tire Discount House at Warren and Beech Daly.
"He's just a good guy. If you need him, he'll be there," Doumont said.
Stewart already underwent surgery, which removed about half of the tumor, Goenner said. The tumor sits near the pituitary gland and the optic nerve. Stewart's vision is deteriorating and he will probably go blind, Goenner said.
"The prognosis for this kind of tumor is not very good," Doumont said. Goenner said the doctors gave Stewart a 26 percent chance of living two more years.
He has already been in and out of the hospital. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments were stopped after his blood levels dropped too low. He received a platelet transfusion and restarted radiation in the hope of stopping the tumor's growth, his friends said.
The Stewart's continue to be active with their children - Ryan and Brandon Stewart and Haley and Corey Buffa. Each of the children - who range in age from 11 to 16 - has inherited their father's love for sports, including baseball.
Friends have set up a Web page about the family at www.stewartfamilyfundraiser.com.
"They need something good to happen," Goenner said.
The family and their friends have been encouraged by the outpouring of support.
"The whole city of Dearborn is coming together for them," Goenner said.