Family of child who died wants to set up fund
By MEGAN EDWARDS
medwards@nwherald.com
Six-year-old Ryan Lamantia will be remembered for his love of the color red, his idolization of Spider-Man, and his outgoing nature, said his mother, Mary Lamantia.
The young Lake in the Hills resident died Thursday after a 21/2-year battle with brain cancer.
Mary Lamantia said she wants to set up a fund in honor of her son so his struggles with cancer would not be in vain.
Some of any donated money would go toward buying toys for his hospital playroom, where he spent most of his time after the disease was diagnosed, she said.
"He lived for that playroom," she said.
Todd Lamantia, Ryan's father, said the rest of the money would go toward a fund for pediatric brain-cancer research.
Ryan's grandparents, aunt and parents gathered Friday to grieve at his parents' home.
His grandmother, Valerie McCann, said she was proud of the way Mary and Todd Lamantia dealt with Ryan's sickness.
"They never left him alone," she said, sobbing. "They were the best parents."
In June, doctors told the family that his tumor had grown substantially and that he probably would not live much longer.
The day after they received that news, his parents took Ryan on a road trip to Universal Studios in Florida.
Though Ryan was suffering from seizures during the trip, his parents said they would never regret the drive. When he was there, he won an opportunity to eat breakfast with Spider-Man.
"He believed it was him," Mary Lamantia said. "He told him he would fight the Green Hornet with him."
