Teen in Ocean County Diagnosed with Leukemia After Persistent Cough

Alex Pastore, a senior at Lacey High School, experienced a persistent cough following his recovery from COVID in January. His parents believed he may have contracted pneumonia. Something more concerning was shown by an X-ray.

Dan Pastore, his father, remarked, "It looked like he had two hearts." "He had something in his chest the size of an orange."

After Alex was transferred to Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, a biopsy revealed that the cause was T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, an aggressive disease of the blood and bone marrow. Almost immediately, he started receiving chemotherapy; the Leukemia Research Foundation reports that children with this type of leukemia have a nearly 80% cure rate with treatment.

Although there is never a good time to receive this kind of diagnosis, Alex's timing is especially difficult as he gets closer to a significant achievement: as part of a dual-enrollment program for high achievers, he has been working toward earning an associate's degree from Ocean County College at the same time he picks up his high school diploma this spring.

He is still committed to completing that and attending Montclair State University in the autumn to further his education.

Alex declared, "I will surely graduate." "I have my home computer here at the hospital. I've been looking over and finishing some schoolwork, but it's not my main focus at the moment.

His professors and instructors are making every effort to accommodate him. Chemotherapy causes headaches, nausea, and exhaustion.

Dan Pastore stated, "He has good days and terrible days, but he clearly has more good days than bad days." "He's handled everything calmly. We are incredibly proud of him.

Alex stated, "You know it's not going to be done quickly, but if you're positive, it's going to be easier to get through." This is how he sees his road to recovery.

For Alex, his days used to be jam-packed with activities. He has served at the local IHOP and played club and high school volleyball after school and on the weekends. All of that just stopped. To find something to do, he will now stroll through the hospital's corridors.

His recuperation is also being aided by widespread support, which includes financial assistance, supportive messages, and care packages.

A family friend launched a GoFundMe page, which has received $16,000 and counting to pay for Alex's medical expenses. Dan took a leave of absence for the remainder of the academic year while teaching business at Henry Hudson High School in Highlands.

In Lacey, Mom Maryanne Pastore is a kindergarten teacher. Both districts' employees and residents "have been incredibly helpful in helping assist Alex through various donations," according to Dan Pastore.

Additionally, the Pastore family has received support from local groups that fight childhood illness, such as the Fighting Children's illness Foundation (located in Fairfield, Essex County), Ocean of Love (based in Toms River), and Courage from Kyle (based in Southern Ocean County).

"Like we do with every family, it's both financial and emotional help," Ocean of Love executive director Theresa Segui stated. Alex is an exceptionally intelligent child who had a planned academic career before being removed from school. Many people think of young children when they think about cancer. Young adults (16 years of age and up) receiving a diagnosis are one of our largest populations at the moment.