Justin Pritikin PLUMSTED — Just before spring break started for pupils at the New Egypt Middle School, news of a classmate’s leukemia diagnosis spread among friends and family members.
Upon hearing that news, the school’s sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders came together to support Justin Pritikin, the sixthgrader who has been diagnosed with leukemia.
Within days, the halls of the school were covered in orange decorations (the color designated for leukemia), and pupils were wearing orange T-shirts in a show of support for Justin.
“We found out that Justin was diagnosed with leukemia, and in less than 24 hours the entire student body united and wanted to do something,” Principal Andrea Caldes told the Tri-Town News.
Justin was diagnosed with type-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia, his father, Andy, told the Tri-Town News. The youngster had flu-like symptoms for a month and a fever that would not break. Since being diagnosed, Justin has undergone treatment at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick.
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. If treated at an early stage, the disease can be cured. In Justin’s case, the disease did not spread to his spine or lymph nodes.
On April 3, administrators held an assembly for each grade to inform the pupils of the school’s participation in the Pennies for Patients program.
“It was more like a pep rally to get the students excited [to help],” Caldes said, adding that Andy Pritikin attended the event.
“I was able to thank the kids and I used the metaphor where we made lemonade out of lemons,” Pritikin said. “It is unbelievable to watch the local community of people you only know in passing come together.”
The term “Justinsanity” was coined by Pritikin during the assemblies as a way to describe the support from the student body. Four of Justin’s friends delivered heartfelt remarks about the young man.
“There was such an outpouring of love and support from the kids,” Pritikin said.
Pennies for Patients is a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society initiative that collects spare change over a three-week period. Money raised goes toward research to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma while increasing the quality of life for patients and their families.
“Each student was provided with a coin box he or she could take to and from school, while each homeroom has a bigger box,” Caldes said. “I was impressed because we had the program running within days.”
Pennies for Patients began on April 16 and will conclude on May 4. The students are hoping to raise at least $500.
Students in the homeroom that makes the most donations will receive a pizza party, and students in the homeroom that makes the second most donations will receive an ice cream party.
Justin is currently being tutored at home, and his father said the support from concerned individuals has been more than could be expected.
“It has been humbling and, at times, emotionally overwhelming,” Pritikin said. “[Justin] said he’s blown away.”
Caldes said, “The entire community … has just been wonderful. Parents are asking what they can do.”
The student council has started selling orange and black ribbons and the proceeds will go to Pennies for Patients.
Alocal florist has donated orange ribbon to be placed on mailboxes and trees in support of Justin. Pritikin said that when Justin and his mother, Jill, returned home from the hospital, they were “floored” by the show of support.
“In this kind of situation, when the community came together, it really showed the greatness of this small town,” Pritikin said. “Whether you are religious or not, the spirit of humanity is great. People want to help one another. To see this in a small town like New Egypt, it’s awesome.”
Caldes said the “tsunami” of support for Justin has been a watershed moment for her school.
“I am just more impressed with the way the students responded by taking something that is very scary and somewhat sad and turning it into an extremely positive thing for the school,” the principal said.
She said she has “never been more proud to be the New Egypt Middle School principal. We have great kids in New Egypt.”
Pritikin said the community’s support has provided a major boost of confidence for his son’s battle with leukemia.
“Throughout [Justin’s] 11 days in the hospital, he [was] thinking that he was going to be the bald little outcast,” Pritikin said. “All of this positive energy has fueled him and helped him stay positive.”
As he recovers, Justin has been writing in an online blog, Justinsanity.org, where more than 16,000 people have already visited and shown their support. On a donation webpage, donations of almost $300 have been made. More information is available at http://tinyurl.com/NEJustinsanity.