Nestor Grullon

Pat Kelly

Piotr Kolodziej

Letitia Mingledolph

Gloria Rucobo

Raquel Rohlfing

PJ Schmidt

Carla Tardif

A Family and a Boy Grateful for the Future

Peter Joseph, or "PJ" as he is affectionately called by his family and friends, is a happy-go-lucky eighteen-year old from North Jersey - a dedicated Yankees fan with a great sense of humor who hopes to major in computer programming this fall at Rutgers University.

However, for the last three years of his life, Peter has been living with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). He was diagnosed in November 2006 - three months after the death of his beloved grandfather. Intense chemotherapy soon followed, which forced his grandmother Cathy, who has had custody of Peter since he was a baby, to leave her job at a hospital.

"Peter was constantly getting sick from the chemotherapy, and I had to leave my position in order to care for him. I went from having a salaried job to having no income - I even had to sell many of my assets, such as my car, for a little extra cash," explained Cathy.

Cathy fell so behind on her bills that her electricity and gas were shut off. Luckily, a social worker at the hospital where Peter was receiving treatment referred the family to Family Reach Foundation. Family Reach immediately stepped in and paid the balance on the account so that Cathy and Peter could stay in the comfort of their home as Peter continued with his treatment.

Family Reach has since supported the family in other ways - sending them a check at Christmas time to make the holiday more enjoyable, and most recently, paying for a limo and a tux so Peter could attend his senior prom at High Tech High School in Lincroft, NJ.

"I can't put into words how much it meant to Peter to be able to attend his prom. There was no way I could have afforded the limo and the tux - and Family Reach stepped right in and took care of everything, no questions asked," said Cathy.

With graduation less than two weeks away, Peter has his mind set on the future - furthering his education at Rutgers University in Newark, NJ.

"Peter has been through so much in his eighteen years - losing his father at a young age, battling through years of chemotherapy and treatment - and yet he has always managed to maintain his sense of humor and keep a smile on his face. He never complains, and he always goes out of his way to encourage and support other kids in the hospital who are also receiving chemo. He's even managed to maintain a 3.7 GPA despite being in and out of school for the last few years," said Cathy.

It is Peter's dream to not just attend college, but also live on campus so he can truly get the college experience. So far, through the support and generosity of members of the community, his dream is becoming a reality.

"If I could tell people one thing I've learned in this journey, it's that no matter how hard things get, there are always people and programs out there willing to support and lend a helping hand," said Peter. "I'm so grateful to the people at Family Reach Foundation who continue to support my family both financially and emotionally - their dedication means more than I can put in words."

Who is your inpiration?

Tell us about a person whose work or fight against cancer has moved you and others.

Inspired?

Make a donation to the mission today!

Post a Comment