Help the family of 10-year-old Sammy Johnson, who died in his mother’s arms of a brain tumor

Samuel-Ace-Johnson-Treasure-Island-brain-stem-glioma, Help the family of 10-year-old Sammy Johnson, who died in his mother’s arms of a brain tumor, Local News & Views
This photo appeared on the front page of the March 2021 Bay View newspaper. Although Carol Harvey and Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai have written in the Bay View for many years to warn potential victims and the public of cancer and other deadly diseases caused by the lethal contamination left behind by the Navy on Treasure Island and the Hunters Point Shipyard, this photo of a beautiful, innocent child killed at the tender age of 10 prompted outrage and renewed demands for thorough cleanup and reparations to the victims.

Another tragic death attributable to the Navy’s radioactive and toxic pollution on Treasure Island

by Carol Harvey

Just after his Jan. 13 birthday, on Feb. 8, 2021, 10-year-old Sammy Johnson was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive tumor at the base of his brain, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).

Sam’s glioma gave him “terrible headaches,” nausea and memory loss. Facial weakness made it difficult for him to chew, swallow and talk. Sam was confined to a wheelchair.

Radiation exposure on former Naval Base Treasure Island, San Francisco, was a huge risk factor. During the 56 years that the Navy operated radiation schools on Treasure Island where Sam lived, it saturated the groundwater and soil with radioactive objects.

Nia Johnson, Sam’s mom, stopped working to take care of Sam full time. 

Nia and Eric, Sam’s dad, searched everywhere for help, including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. They asked that Sam be admitted to trials at Duke and Stanford Universities. 

On Tuesday, Nia informed the San Francisco Bay View newspaper that on Monday, Sept. 20, Sammy died in her arms. The family is devastated by the loss of their beloved only child and son. 

Help-save-Sams-life-Save-Sam-Sam-Johnson-10-brain-tumor-1, Help the family of 10-year-old Sammy Johnson, who died in his mother’s arms of a brain tumor, Local News & Views
This is the photo Sam’s family used to raise support in the last months of his life. They wanted to enroll him in a brain tumor trial at either Duke or Stanford University.

Staff and San Francisco Bay View Newspaper readers – many of whom reached out with suggestions for help – are grieving and praying along with Sam’s mom and dad.

The family continues to need financial help to defray travel expenses. They would be very grateful to anyone who considers giving at this GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-sam-his-family-fight-for-his-life?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer.

Carol Harvey is a San Francisco political journalist specializing in human rights and civil rights. She can be reached at carolharvey1111@gmail.com.

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