The word “delight” means happiness, joy. Thirteen-year-old Delight lives up to her name, finding happiness and joy despite the challenges of her cancer journey.

Delight was diagnosed with leukemia at age nine, two years after her family’s move to NJ from abroad. Delight’s mother received a work permit and her older sister enrolled at Rutgers University. The family settled into their new home with assistance from their local church.

Then cancer upended their comfortable existence in the U.S. Delight’s mom was unable to continue working because her daughter needed constant care. They had to move to a new apartment closer to the treatment center and free of the stairs Delight began having trouble navigating due to disabling side effects from the chemotherapy, including high blood pressure, diabetes and extreme weight gain.

The social worker at the treatment center referred Delight’s family to ECF, which offered emotional support to the mom, delivered groceries to their home, and assisted them in obtaining donations of furniture, cooking utensils and a car. Throughout their ordeal, Delight and her mother never complained about their challenges, just taking life one day at a time.          

As Delight eventually responded well to the treatment, her mother was able to return to work, taking a position working at night, while her older daughter was home with Delight. The family could finally support themselves again and moved back to their original neighborhood to a new apartment. 

Now, almost 4 years since Delight was first diagnosed, she is done with treatment, visiting the doctor monthly to track her progress. Before the coronavirus hit, Delight enjoyed being back at school and taking dance classes. Despite the current COVID-related restrictions, Delight continues to focus on her schoolwork through distance learning and hanging out with her family at home.

Additional Newsletter Articles

ECF Families Treated to Delicious Restaurant Meals!

ECF Families Treated to Delicious Restaurant Meals!

In May, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office (BCPO) and Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association 221 (PBA) delivered fresh, hot meals from Caffe Anello in Westwood to some of our local ECF families! Chef Johnny from Caffe Anello and the PBA (both pictured here preparing...

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Volunteer Story: Kay O’Connell, 41 Years of Service to ECF

Volunteer Story: Kay O’Connell, 41 Years of Service to ECF

​Giving back is what motivated Kay O’Connell to begin helping out at the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation’s Northern Regional Center.  Kay, 89 years young, wears many hats; wife, mom of 4, grandmother of 9, teacher and ECF volunteer for the past 31 years.    Kay’s service...

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Nicole is Doing Great!

Nicole is Doing Great!

​We love success stories, and Nicole is one of them. She is a healthy 18 year old who is about to graduate from high school. But 15 years ago, Nicole wasn’t so healthy. She was diagnosed at age three with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and had to endure grueling chemo...

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Leslie is Our Hero

Leslie is Our Hero

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” –Christopher Reeve Little Leslie is as beautiful as she is brave, enduring so much more than a 19 month old should while remaining joyful and smiling....

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TJ: Just a Kid

TJ: Just a Kid

Thirteen-year-old TJ is not especially anxious about the Corona virus pandemic. Unfortunately, isolation, fear and uncertainty aren’t new to him. Since his diagnosis of leukemia four years ago, TJ spent a lot of time quarantined from the outside world in the hospital...

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Where to Find Us

Headquarters

77 Brant Ave.
Suite 304
Clark, NJ 07066
(908) 322-4323
Fax: (732) 943-7529

Joann Passantino
Executive Director, ext. 16

Victoria Shestack Aronoff
Development Director, ext. 15

Trish Picone
Accountant, ext. 12

Gloria Pocchio
Office Manager, ext. 10

Central Regional Center

77 Brant Ave.
Suite 304
Clark, NJ 07066
(908) 322-4323 x17

Barbara Kopel
Sr. Central Regional Director

Southern Regional Center

451 Beech Ave.
Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097
(856) 853-4803

Mary Ann Sullivan 
Southern Regional Director

Eastern Regional Center

1710 Highway 71
Suite 2
Wall, NJ 07719
(732) 282-2324

Rosemarie Contreras
Eastern Regional Director

Northern Regional Center

174 Paterson Ave.
PO Box 212
Midland Park, NJ 07432
(201) 612-8118

Inessa Rome
Northern Regional Director

 



 

The Emmanuel Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All donations to the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation are tax-exempt to the extent allowed by law. Tax ID #22-2459774