By Peter Sclafani, Staff Writer
NEW EGYPT: ‘Justin Insanity’ to help sick boy NEW EGYPT — A few months ago, Andy and Jill Pritikin saw their son go from energetic and healthy to lethargic, underweight and sickly with no rhyme nor reason why.
A trip to the hospital and a few blood tests later, the Pritikins got the news no parent ever wants to hear — their son, Justin, was suffering from leukemia.
Justin, just like any 12-year-old boy, loves watching and playing sports, playing video games, watching TV and hanging out with his friends. But Justin is tough as nails and always has a smile on his face even though he goes to the hospital every other week for intense rounds of chemotherapy.
According to his father, since Justin was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, he has become a local celebrity in his hometown.
”Within 24 hours of me calling Justin’s school to let them know what has happened, kids initiated fundraisers and organized themselves to wear all orange to school in support of Justin,” Mr. Pritikin said.
Saturday, New Egypt recreation baseball will be holding Justin Sanity Night to raise money to help pay Justin’s hospital bills.
Starting at 4 p.m. at the New Egypt recreation field on Brindletown Road, there will be carnival games, a home run derby, a basketball foul shot competition, a community softball game and a movie in the park at the end of the night.
People have stepped up and looked for opportunities to help, Mr. Pritikin said.
So far, the Pritikin family’s crisis has been met with unprecedented support, according to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.
”They keep telling us that this is not the normal reaction for a community,” Mr. Pritikin said. “They have never seen anything like this.”
”Justin Sanity” has taken New Egypt by storm. The local florist, Designs by Linda, has donated orange leukemia ribbons for New Egypt residents to show their support of Justin. At school and the Liberty Lake Day Camp, which is run by Mr. Pritikin, Justin’s friends and classmates can be seen wearing orange Justin Sanity T-shirts. Neighbors and friends have even helped cook meals for the Pritikin family when they have to be with Justin at St. Peter’s University Hospital.
With all that is going on, Justin has never stopped smiling, Mr. Pritikin said.
”His attitude has been great, and he’s an optimistic and funny kid. There is no doubt he is very stressed, but he keeps it in,” Mr. Pritikin said.
This week, Justin has been in the hospital undergoing the most intense chemotherapy he will receive in this round of treatment, and, hopefully, in his entire battle against cancer. He is looking forward to moving past this, and his doctors and parents are confident he will be able to beat leukemia.
Although it may be hard for most people to find the silver lining in a situation like Justin’s, Mr. Pritikin said he believes he has found it.
Mr. Pritikin’s voice was filled with pride as he talked about his son’s outlook on life.
”The kids that get through this, they end up being the unbelievable adults because they have such a great view of life,” he said. “They don’t take anything for granted.”

