Justin's story began on May 1, 2020, when he was just 4-years-old. We took him to his pediatrician, who immediately told us they were sending him by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. There, we were going to meet a group of doctors that were going to explain what was going on with our boy. When we got to the hospital, that's when we heard the words, “I'm sorry to have to inform you your son has cancer.” Our world went silent.

We spent months in the hospital, and our medical team did the best they could - from doctors to nurses, child life specialists, therapists, social workers and the staff from PCFLV - to make sure we could smile and find relief through everything we were enduring. But there were moments that were extremely difficult. After spending 9 months in treatment, we got Justin’s test result from his bone marrow aspiration, and we were told he had to go to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a bone marrow transplant. In March, Justin got very sick because his first bone marrow transplant was not successful and he had to be intubated and wait for his body to heal. Our son got better, and our medical team prepared him for his second transplant.

On April 30 ,2021, he got his second bone marrow transplant, which was a success. His father was his donor. It has been four years that he has been in remission and, even though chemo has left him with side effects, we continue to thank God every day - and every single person that has been key to helping our boy and family.

The reason we picked the location for his photos is because it is near Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, and when Justin was receiving treatment and finally got the opportunity to leave and get a break from chemotherapy, we would go to the Allentown Fish Hatchery. Justin loved to walk around and stand in the sun. He would feel “warm feelings,” as he used to say, and he would shine so bright even though he was going through something so difficult. He loved to feed the fish, and it would bring him so much joy just seeing how they would jump to eat. It was our “normal” in our not-normal world. He would always ask for a picture and just stare at the water. So, we made it our mission that, every time we left the hospital, that was our normal family time. We made memories there every time we had the chance. It was his happy place and safe zone. We just knew it brought him joy.

Written by Justin’s mom, Zuleika

Please consider helping children with cancer and others in our community by scheduling a blood donation at Miller-Keystone Blood Center: https://donor.giveapint.org/donor/schedules/zip