Six-year-old John Oliver Zippay received a standing ovation from his fellow classmates this week when he finished his final round of chemotherapy in his three-year-long battle against leukemia.
John Oliver — known by his family, friends, and teachers as “J.O.” — finished his final round of chemo Dec. 27, just after Christmas, according to WJW-TV.
J.O.’s dad, John, told the local news outlet his son is “doing great” and is feeling better. His mom, Megan, said she and her husband have kept J.O. “in a bubble” and are looking forward to seeing him play, travel, and learn again.
“He loves planes; he’s kind of an old soul,” said family friend Shannon Formanski. “He loves World War II and all that kind of stuff, so he’s really excited to be able to travel a bit more and do that kind of stuff.”
Formanski played a big role in organizing the boisterous homecoming for J.O., rounding up all of the little boy’s friends and classmates for a big celebration at St. Helen’s Catholic School in Ohio after his last round of chemo.
“You want that for your child — to grow up and get dirty and play outside and have fun and we kept him in a bubble so we’re excited,” Megan Zippay said. “[We’re] looking forward to the future and having our little boy back.”