Seeking some comfort

Deepa Bharath

Tony Merrell is 9 years old.

He loves action movies and his collection of G. I. Joes. And like

anyone his age, Tony likes to daydream about his future.

Maybe he’d play some day for the Mighty Ducks. Then again, maybe

he won’t. He’d be a rock star. That’s right. He’d form his own band

and play lead guitar -- or the piano.

Two weeks ago, Tony was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.

His family was devastated and his neighbors say they are still in

shock.

“It’s always more shocking when this happens to a child,” said

Janine Brown, whose daughter, Chloe, met Tony two years ago when they

were jumping on the trampoline in their respective back yards.

On Tuesday night, Brown invited a few neighbors over to her house

to pray for Tony.

“Whether Tony is healed or not, prayer is a comfort,” she said. “I

put out fliers in the neighborhood because it is important for people

to know that they have the option to provide support if they want

to.”

Dawn Bowe can’t talk about Tony without tearing up. She met the

boy less than two months ago when she was walking their Labrador with

her 8-year-old son Austin.

“Tony’s mom had got him a lab puppy too, and we got talking about

the dogs,” Bowe said.

Tony and Austin hit it off right away.

“Tony is one of these kids who is so polite and bright and

well-mannered,” she said. “My son doesn’t understand this. He just

met Tony and he loves him.”

Bowe said she and Austin visited Tony once at Children’s Hospital

of Orange County where he is now in the intensive care unit.

“His vision is blurred, so he can’t read,” she said. “So we took

him some videos.”

Bowe said he seemed happy to have visitors.

Neighbor Kathy Nasca said she prays for Tony every day.

“I pray for a miracle to happen,” she said.

Nasca’s 11-year-old son, also Tony, said he misses his friend.

“I taught him to skate,” he said. “We hung out and played video

games.”

Tony’s parents, Bill Merrell and Carol Dugan, were not present at

the gathering.

Esperanza San Pablo said she didn’t know Tony, but came to the

prayer meeting anyway.

“I have children,” she said. “I feel sad for this child and I want

to pray that he gets better.”

Kathy Nasca said the residents of Cove Street in Costa Mesa’s

Westside are quite close-knit.

“We know each other and we help each other,” she said. “And right

now, we all want Tony to come back to us.”