When Michael Saluzzi learned that his 2-year-old daughter had cancer, his whole world stopped. Everything he was used to doing changed and all his priorities shifted. His daughter, Olivia Saluzzi, was diagnosed with leukemia, which is also in her bone marrow, on June 7.
Shortly afterward, Sebastian’s Mediterranean Cuisine reached out to the family. It wanted to do a fundraiser for her and wanted to involve other restaurants as well.
“My wife and I have been pretty much overwhelmed by people reaching out, trying to help,” said Saluzzi, a life-long resident of San Pedro. “It’s overwhelming how many people have offered their time, money, support, clothing, … toys.”
Ten San Pedro businesses have held fundraisers or donated money for Olivia, including Happy Diner, Big Nick’s Pizza, San Pedro Brewing Company, West Coast Philly’s, J. Trani’s Ristorante and the San Pedro Fish Market. So far, they’ve raised over $5,000.
“It’s just been incredible,” Saluzzi said. “It’s provided us … with the week-to-week things that we need. And so many other people have just donated privately.”
The entirety of treatment could cost from $3 to $5 million.
Saluzzi has received thousands of messages offering support. People have dubbed Olivia “San Pedro’s Little Warrior.”
“She’s strong,” Saluzzi said. “She’s pushing on, she’s fighting this with everything she has.”
Olivia recently finished the delayed intensification stage of her treatment, but she will continue to have treatment until August 2022.
“This past phase, which was really difficult, she had all the visual signs of cancer start to show,” Saluzzi said. “The hair loss … the raccoon eyes, the discoloration, the weakness, the tiredness, the nausea.”
Olivia has had four blood transfusions, two platelet transfusions, and five lumbar punctures.
“It’s just hard to watch,” Saluzzi said.
Sheila Saluzzi, Olivia’s mother, lost her job because of the pandemic before Olivia was diagnosed.
“To have your wife lose her job because of COVID, and then, right in the middle of it, have your daughter diagnosed with cancer … it was almost crippling,” Saluzzi said.
Despite this, Saluzzi says he and his family remain hopeful. They lean on their faith and pray every night.
“We’re hoping for a very, very positive outcome,” Saluzzi said. “We keep fighting, and she keeps fighting. It’s just a rough patch.”
Big Nick’s Pizza held a fundraiser for Olivia on Nov. 28, and a little more than 20% of the funds raised that day went to Olivia’s medical bills, said John Bagakis, managing partner of Big Nick’s Pizza. He said that when there’s a local individual in need, the business community helps, and Big Nick’s likes to contribute.
“We’re locals,” Bagakis said. “We love our hometown and we want to give back.”
Roman Carrillo, owner of Happy Diner, said he found out about Olivia from a customer. Carrillo is the father of two little girls and was more than willing to help.
“It’s just heartbreaking knowing that a little girl … at her age is going through all this,” Carrillo said.
For Happy Diner’s fundraiser, it donated a little more than 20% of the money that it raised on Oct. 27, which was about $250 to $300.
“We had a really good day,” Carrillo said. “The community was really supportive.”
In addition, Carrillo said that he and others at Happy Diner supported Big Nick’s fundraiser, and they do this when other restaurants have fundraisers as well.
Saluzzi said he is very grateful for what he has received so far.
“We can’t thank the people of San Pedro enough,” Saluzzi said. “It’s just been overwhelming, and we’re so fortunate that we have so much support from so many people.”