By John Dunphy, Managing Editor
ROBBINSVILLE — For one area family, Saturday night is sure to be magic.
The Lee family, whose 6-year-old son, Jonathan, was diagnosed 18 months ago with pancreatoblastoma, a rare form of children’s cancer, will be guests of honor when Sharon and Windsor elementary schools host the Harlem MagicMasters entertainment basketball team at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Robbinsville High School gymnasium. All proceeds from the event, which will include a number of area vendors, will be donated to the family.
The event was first proposed by Sharon School teacher Dawn Brunow, who had taught Jonathan’s older brother, Justin, and knew of the family’s situation.
”We tried for some time to convince them to let the community help in any way we could,” Ms. Brunow says. “Lisa (Yi, Jonathan’s mother) wasn’t ready to accept any help. Finally, I came up with a couple different ideas and said, ‘please, let us help.’”
Ms. Yi says the school and many from the community have reached out to her family and says “I feel like they’re friends at this point,” she says. “The response has been overwhelming. It’s nice to know there are so many caring people out there.”
Janet Sinkewicz, principal at Sharon School, also praised participants for their involvement. “It has been heartwarming to see the Robbinsville community come together to support this family, not just financially, but emotionally as well.”
Jonathan’s mother says only about 200 known cases of pancreatoblastoma have been found, the majority of which have been diagnosed in Asians. “It’s very rare; there’s absolutely no roadmap for this,” she says.
With no history of the disease to guide them, Jonathan has had to endure an extensive number of treatments since first being diagnosed on March 7, 2007, including lung surgery and removal of half his pancreas, as well as 25 radiation sessions to his lungs and abdomen, and chemotherapy. “He’s been through a lot,” says Sueng Lee, Jonathan’s father.
It started when Jonathan showed a significant lack of appetite and complained of stomach pains. The family continued to see doctors, who could not provide a proper diagnosis. This continued for nearly two years.
Today, the family keeps a very clean house and makes sure everyone washes their hands when they come in. If someone is sick, they cannot visit until well. Last year, Jonathan was only able to attend his first day of kindergarten because he was too sick.
Despite all Jonathan — and his family, which includes siblings Justin, 7, and Jena, 4 — have been through, both he and they are in good spirits. Besides a feeding tube that hangs from Jonathan’s nose, he goes about his day much like any other 6-year-old. His current favorite pastime: Star Wars Legos.
”He is really good,” says Ms. Yi. “Without the feeding tube you would never know.”
Jonathan is now on a steady dose of chemotherapy that will prolong his life. The family holds out hope a cure can be found.
”We believe he is going to be OK in the long run,” says Mr. Lee, “but there is uncertainty. We like to live for today, not tomorrow.”
On this day, Jonathan is just like any happy-go-lucky kid, and says he is excited to see the basketball team perform on Saturday against some of Robbinsville’s teachers. “He asked if his teacher was going to play,” Ms. Yi says with a laugh.
Ms. Yi offers other parents advice should their children start complaining about any unknown ailments. “If you have a gut feeling, go with it,” she says.
The Harlem MagicMasters entertainment basketball team will play at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Robbinsville High School auditorium at Robbinsville High School, 155 Robbinsville Edinburg Road. Food vendors include Dairy Queen and Hightstown Diner. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will go to the Lee family. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Dawn Brunow at 609-632-0960, ext. 7140.
