Valentine’s Day has become more and more special each year for the Wishbow family of Millstone, but it has nothing to do with hearts and flowers. It marks the anniversary of the day when James and Brenda’s 22-year-old daughter Rebecca was declared cancer free.
“[We had] a lot of great doctors and a lot of people praying for us,” he said. “We all take everything for granted day to day, and it’s very easy to do. The whole experience was really a growing experience.”
Only 16 years old when she was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) on Halloween in 2006, Rebecca was a bit of an anomaly, James said. The disease typically occurs in adults. Adding to the shock was that the Wishbows have no family history ofAML, a cancer that targets the blood and bone marrow.
“They really don’t know what causes it,” he said.
According to James, the chance for survival for patients with AML is about 50/50. Fortunately, Rebecca fell on the good side of that statistic.
Throughout the family’s ordeal, the community really banded together to provide support to the Wishbows, according to James. Allentown High School, from which Rebecca graduated in 2008, holds a special place in his heart because of the caring shown by students there through fundraisers and other means.
Since then, the Wishbows have made it their mission to provide to others the gifts that were given to them.
“It’s definitely paying it forward,” said James, a member of the board of New Jersey’s Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
For the past three years, the family has spearheaded a fundraising event at Laurita Winery in New Egypt to benefit LLS. At this year’s event on May 11, they hope to pay it forward even more by having a larger turnout to raisemore donations toward finding a cure.
In its first year, the wine-tasting fundraiser garnered $10,000 for LLS. Last year, about 175 attendees yielded $18,000 for the organization, he said.
“This year, we anticipate to meet that or get closer to 200,” he said.
Laurita’s owners, Ray Shea and Randy Johnson, donate the space for the event, which offers food, wine and entertainment for a $50 donation.
“It’s a very, very nice night,” he said. “It’s a casual Friday night event.”
Attendees get their choice of six free tastings or a glass of one of Laurita’s awardwinning wines, along with free-flowing appetizers throughout the evening.
Baskets, filled with items honoring loved ones diagnosed with leukemia or other cancers, will be raffled.
Apianist will provide entertainment, and about halfway through the night, the Wishbows will give a presentation on leukemia, offering information from their yearlong research.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “In 50 years, [treatments have] come so far.”
According to James, some blood cancers now have survival rates as high as 80 to 90 percent, thanks to advances in medicine over the years.
A representative of the state LLS board will also be on hand to speak at the event.
Many of those who attend are the same people who were there to support Rebecca, who will be a part of Georgian Court University’s first graduating nursing school class in May, James said.
“It’s a lot of friends and neighbors,” he said, adding that new faces also show up each year, widening the network of supporters.
“If you did a survey, 95 percent of the people you meet have been touched by cancer, if not 100 [percent],” he said.
The third annual wine tasting fundraiser is Friday, May 11, 6-9 p.m. at Laurita Winery, 45Archertown Road, New Egypt. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but advance registration is appreciated. Make checks payable to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and send to James and Brenda Wishbow, 199 Paint Island Spring Road, Millstone.
For more information, call 609-259- 6459 or email [email protected] or [email protected].