Sometimes the most powerful forces in life aren’t random; they come together through shared experiences that span years and connect people in unexpected ways.
For Kathy O’Dwyer and her daughter, Meghan Tench, at O’Dwyer Homes, childhood cancer isn’t rare. It is deeply personal and has touched their lives through a remarkable web that led them to partner with CURE Childhood Cancer for their Build for CURE program.
Sean and his fiancée
Sean in treatment
The inspiration begins with Sean Dever, the little brother of Kathy’s son’s best friend. When Sean was just 11 years old in July 2007, the O’Dwyer family watched as he battled osteosarcoma, supporting his parents through the unimaginable. Sean underwent rotationplasty, a complex procedure that would reshape his life but not diminish his spirit. Remarkably, even after the amputation, Sean was able to play lacrosse at the college level and remain active. Today, he works in the Athletic Department at Marist School and is preparing to get married in December.
“I basically grew up in the O’Dwyer’s house,” Sean reflected. “Cancer wasn’t a fun experience to go through, but I’m excited to see this home go up. It is an incredible opportunity to give back.”
Meghan’s connection runs equally deep. During her school years, she watched as her classmate Matt, CURE advocate Jill Rossino’s son, fought his own cancer battle. Like Sean, Matt emerged victorious, another portrait of survival.
John in treatment
John today
But perhaps the most poignant connection belongs to Brandon, the O’Dwyer builder overseeing this special project. His son John was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the tender age of nine. What began with a mysterious fever after a camping trip transformed their family forever. John endured the devastating lows of treatment, at one point weighing just 49 pounds and asking his mother to “just let me die.”
CURE stepped in during John’s darkest moments, providing counseling that helped him communicate his feelings and cope with his new reality. CURE didn’t just treat his cancer; they helped heal his spirit. Now, seven years post-treatment and a sophomore at Kennesaw State University studying mechanical engineering, John has embraced his story. The boy who once wanted to forget he was ever “the cancer kid” now proudly wears a tattoo over his former port site – a ribbon with the date that marks his last day of chemo.
Through Build for CURE, O’Dwyer Homes is transforming this web of personal connections into hope. By donating proceeds from their first townhouse sale at 1108 Duluth Highway in Lawrenceville, they’re ensuring that other families facing childhood cancer will have the support, research, and hope that helped Sean, Matt, and John not just survive – but thrive.
