By Elissa Bass



LEDYARD, CT -- Marik Tucker loves maps. He loves learning about new places and different cultures. As part of a Navy family, he has moved a few times and always enjoys meeting new people.



But the 10-year-old doesn't travel much from his Gales Ferry, CT, home these days, other than to Yale-New Haven Hospital for chemotherapy treatments to fight his difficult battle with Osteosarcoma, a cancer that starts in the bones and can move to other tissue.



So his mom, Kelli Tucker, has launched a project on Marik's Facebook page as a way to keep up his spirits during his chemotherapy:



"Marik loves maps, and is very interested in other places and cultures. For a last chemo surprise, I would like everyone to send him a POSTCARD! something beautiful or special about where you live. I'm going to make him a wall mural with all of them! PLEASE HELP! P.O. Box 488, Gales Ferry, CT 06335 PLEASE share, and let's make this special surprise for him!!!!!"



It has been a tough road for Marik, who was born with bilateral severe hearing impairment. Since day one, he's struggled with speech, learning and in social settings. In April, Marik's family found a pet for him, an older, deaf German Shepherd that was taken by authorities in Oxford, CT because of neglect. The Tuckers adopted the dog for Marik, who named him Zero the Hero.



Recently the dog was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and is undergoing treatment but is not expected to live very long. A fund has been set up by Connecticut Animal House to help the family with those expenses.



Marik's father George is in the Navy and is stationed at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton. The couple has two other children.



Remember, send the postcards to Miracles for Marik, P.O. Box 488, Gales Ferry, CT 06335.

