For a boy whose life has been turned upside down by a rare form of leukemia, Christmas Day dinner was pretty normal.

Make that wonderfully, thankfully normal.

Crowded around the kitchen table in Sergio Acuahuitl’s Davenport home were his mom, dad, sister and seven other relatives, including his grandmother, aunt and two young cousins, all eating a hot dinner cooked by the Iowa Machine Shed, Davenport.

Sergio, 11, had spent Thanksgiving at University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, where he receives chemotherapy treatments for acute myeloid leukemia, a form of cancer that was diagnosed on July 25.

A sense of normalcy for Christmas was Sergio’s wish when he and his family were featured in the Quad-City Times in late November as nominees for the Wish List Quad-Cities program. Nominees are selected by the United Way of the Quad-Cities Area and its member agencies, which accepts donations for families in need.

Sergio has had four chemotherapy treatments; the most recent lasted five weeks and there was some question whether he’d be home for Christmas, his mom, Melissa Wagner, said. But he got home and, except for the quick trip back for a blood platelet transfusion on Tuesday, has been able to enjoy his time — normal time — at home.

“These potatoes are awesome,” he said, as he sampled his first forkful of cheesey shredded potatoes on Christmas. Also on the menu – which was his Wish List gift — were ham, turkey, sweet potatoes, corn, rolls, cole slaw, cottage cheese and apple and pumpkin pies.

While waiting for dinner to be served, he showed off some of his Christmas presents, like the eight Lego kits he got, including a police station with 953 pieces.

Isn’t that quite a few pieces? Oh no, the Legos enthusiast said. “That’s how good I am.”

He also received a battery-operated helicopter that flies through the air and a “zero gravity” car that climbs up walls.

Another bit of normalcy Sergio is happy about: His hair is beginning to grow back. Although faint, he can feel it.

 “It’s like peach fuzz,” he said, running his hand over his otherwise shiny head.

Sergio will return to Iowa City on Jan. 5 for what Wagner and his dad, Shawn Wogomon, hope will be his last round of chemotherapy. His cancer went into remission in November, and “we are looking forward to being home by March for good,” Wagner said.

Sergio is in sixth grade and for this school year he is receiving instruction both at the hospital and at home. His favorite subject is social studies. In addition to Legos and video games he enjoys Boy Scouts, soccer and bowling.

“Although our lives have taken a major turn that no one could ever prepare for, our family is stronger than ever,” Wagner wrote in her Christmas letter that she emailed to friends and family. “We are working hard on figuring out what our new ‘normal’ life will be like and we are looking forward to the many great things that will come in 2009.”

Alma Gaul can be contacted at (563) 383-2324 or agaul@qctimes.com.

Can you give blood?

Sergio Acuahuitl has received transfusions of red blood cells and platelets throughout his treatment, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, there will be a special blood drive to honor donors at the Center for Active Seniors, 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport.

The drive will “honor the blood and platelet donors who have given so selflessly to help Sergio kick AML (acute myeloid leukemia), his mom, Melissa Wagner, Davenport, said.

Free childcare and snacks will be provided; Sergio and his family will be there.

If you can donate, you can schedule an appointment by calling (563) 359-5401 or going online to bloodcenter.org.

Walk-ins also are welcome.

How you can help

It’s not too late to help others. Wish List Quad-Cities accepts cash donations only. United Way of the Quad-Cities Area has established a bank account into which contributions are deposited.

Administrative and publication expenses are absorbed by the Quad-City Times and the United Way, which means 100 percent of your contributions benefit Wish List Quad-Cities nominees. As long as money is available, we will keep granting wishes.

Those who would like to give to Wish List can donate by sending their check to United Way of the Quad-Cities Area, 3247 E. 35th St. Court, Davenport, IA 52807, or by visiting www.unitedwayqc.org on the Web.

Please do not mail contributions to the Quad-City Times and do not send money in the mail. Send a check or money order made out to Wish List Quad-Cities.