Usually, to visit and tour the White House that must be requested via your Member of Congress (U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator), but in the case of Shaler Area sophomore Jimmy Spagnolo, he received a personal invitation to the Oval Office. 

First, it is important to discuss Jimmy’s incredible journey that ultimately led to this opportunity. Jimmy was diagnosed with a brain tumor at only four years old. Pediatric cancer is the hardest type of cancer to treat; once a child uses a treatment medication once, they are not supposed to use the same type again.

Since cancer in children does not have the same causes as cancer in adults and still children have developing immune systems, repeating medications can often either have no effect or can have extremely negative effects, as they can weaken the development of young peoples’ immune systems. Despite this, due to its limited research funding, a limited number of drugs available and unfortunately low attention from the public, many children are forced to repeat medications. 

“The problem with pediatric cancer is that we are very limited on how many drugs actually treat tumors, especially brain tumors. Once you use a med, you are not supposed to be able to use it again. So if you have five meds in your closet that you can use and you get seven reoccurrences, the numbers don’t add up,” Jimmy’s mother, Lacie Spagnolo, said. 

Jimmy had been fighting his cancer for years and he still participates in brain scans every six months to make sure everything is under control. His mother added his tumor is still there – just stable and dormant for the last year and a half. When Jimmy was about six-and-a-half years old, he rang the infamous bell, signifying the end of his fourth round of chemotherapy. The joy and inspiration from all those who watched this special moment turned that clip into a viral video. 

After further connections and affiliations with the Children’s Hospital Foundation during further treatments and periodical checkups, Jimmy’s family became well acquainted with Stephanie McMahon, a former professional wrestler and a strong advocate for children’ s cancer research. She was also the founder of Connor’s Cure, a pediatric cancer foundation that thrived in association with WWE. 

On September 30, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to provide an additional $50 million in research grants aimed at finding cures for childhood cancers. The Tuesday before the signing, Mrs. McMahon called Mrs. Spagnolo and asked if Jimmy would like to go to the White House to watch the order being signed. 

“I was happy to be presented with this opportunity, definitely,” Jimmy said. “I was thinking, I am going to meet  the President of the United States. Let’s do this. Let’s get in the car and go. This is really a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

And so, Jimmy and his family set off to Washington DC. 

To get into the White House, Jimmy and his family had to go through a very tight security from the Secret Service. 

When they were in the building, procedure became a bit more relaxed; they first went to the Roosevelt Room before the actual signing of the order. Eventually, Jimmy and the rest of the kids, invited from all over the country, were sent to the Oval Office, which Jimmy noted as surprisingly small and crammed. 

After the bill was signed, Jimmy walked up to President Trump and asked him if he could get a pen to bring back to his sister who was in the Roosevelt Room. The families of the other children benefited from Jimmy’s question because afterwards, President Trump brought all of the families into the Oval Office for about fifteen minutes, giving each of the families coins with the White House on them. 

“It was pretty amazing to see when you walked into the Oval Office; you could sense the history there and that the weight of the world is on the shoulders of anybody that sits in that chair. And I know what it’s like to have the weight of the world on my shoulders with my son, but to walk in and have the weight of the world on your shoulders at all times, you have to have respect for that place and that office,” Mrs. Spagnolo said. 

After they left the Oval Office, they got a tour of much of the rest of the White House, including the rooms that are usually blocked off to the general public. Jimmy and his family were able to see some of the most historic rooms in the world and meet some of the most influential people in the country, including Dr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Jimmy’s favorite room in the tour was the kitchen; the kids were able to meet one of the chefs and learn about their daily lives. 

To Jimmy and his family, this experience provides hope for pediatric cancer research and funding in the future. If more orders or bills like this are passed in the future, then thousands of kids will be able to benefit and lead more prosperous lives. To Jimmy, this is what the order was truly about. It was never just about going to the White House, but it was about helping the numerous kids across the country who have been battling cancer. 

“Jimmy’s this voice of innocence. He doesn’t handle himself like he has something wrong. Jimmy’s always been like, ‘I’m just me, and I have to deal with this.’ It’s never defined him,” Lacie Spagnolo said. “He just says, ‘This is what I was meant to do, Mom. I’m just going to help everybody I can.’ He always talks about how he’s going to help the kids. He never says, ‘I’m going to help myself’.”