AJ's Brain Cancer Update

Sara Ruggiero Pastorello is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Albert Ruggiero.

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UPDATED LINK: A long overdue update on AJ Ruggiero -

**Updated GoFundMe link because the last one was too old. To read more of the original fundraiser you can click here; https://www.gofundme.com/f/ajtreatmentfund ** Thank to those of you who reached out to let me know that it wasn't working.

Today is August 26th, 2020.
Today is the 7th day we have had AJ home on Hospice.

We should have written more prior to this update and to all of you that helped make the last 4 years possible.

I remember writing the update about AJ’s second diagnosis like yesterday: August 7th 2016 – GLIOBLASTOMA: the pathology report had come back and we were informed that the tumor that had returned was not the original PNET (Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor). This second tumor was bigger than the first and had been diagnosed as Glioblastoma multiforme.

As of June 2020 – it appeared to have reoccurred on the other side of his brain in multiple places causing dizziness, confusion and overall difficulty with motor functions.

I read through the past updates from 2016 and can’t believe we are here but more so, I can’t believe how far we’ve come. The last updates about blood counts and prognosis are heart breaking and yet we were able to get 4 more years with AJ. These past four years were not stuck in a hospital bed either, but they were spent with family and friends, learning how to retrain his body, adapting to each new challenge he faced.

My goal in starting the GoFundMe was to assist with medical expenses and raise enough funds to get a vehicle that could bring AJ anywhere he wanted to go and of course to doctor appointments. Because of all of you, we did that. He had a motorized wheelchair; we acquired a handicap van with a lift, and we went from TN to NY around NYC, Long Island and even up to Lake George.

In the Summer of 2017, we packed up the handicap van and wheelchair and went to NY where AJ spent a few months with his sister and her family and friends and often rode his wheelchair straight down the street to Round Lake where he hung out with neighbors and new friends.

This trip proved to be a welcome and exciting adventure that started with denting the new van at the Ice Cream stand and ended with AJ walking to the car and sitting in the front passenger seat with my father for the journey home, where he would never again sit in the motorized wheelchair.

Rather than focus on the trauma of this recovery and where we are today, I want to note that during these past few years AJ learned to walk again, tried new things, swam to an island in Lake George, drove a boat, sat on the winning knights side at Medieval Times in VIP with his best friend Corey, where he had purchased one of his favorite items; a Jon Snow Sword replica from “Game of Thrones.” With this sword and his new skill of walking again, he dressed in full Jon Snow costume with boots, sword, wig and all. He had come to NY wheelchair bound and here he was, wielding a sword and wig that made him happier than I could have ever imagined. He made others so happy with this costume that an Amazonian princess jumped on him not knowing that AJ had only been walking again for a few weeks. AJ didn’t complain as the two of them toppled to the ground dressed in their medieval garb. Sara didn’t save him from this leaping amazon but rather took pictures of the whole interaction which led to hours of laughter and jokes to come.

We took a chance and put a driving assist knob on the steering wheel of the Jeep and videotaped AJ learning to drive again with only his right hand. AJ not only learned to drive again but upon returning home to TN purchased his new favorite thing, a Fiat! He was a proud young driver.

Just this past January, he treated David, Shelby and Sara to a fun night at an escape room, which was a first for all of us. We followed it up by trying to find pork buns in the city of Knoxville and enjoyed our time together trying new things at a strange new restaurant. This year we also learned of a fun gift exchange game that kept our family laughing for hours as we celebrated the new year and we will continue to play this game every Christmas as a new tradition in honor of AJ.

AJ has had such a short and hard journey, but he has shown appreciation and gratitude for every moment, excitement for every new adventure yet absolute contentment with each moment he had and the strength to keep moving forward past the obstacles he had to contend with.

It is hard to end this update as I sit next to him while he sleeps. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever written or experienced, but our family thanks all of you, from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and compassion, your love and your prayers.

To all of you who met, befriended, loved and shared time with AJ, thank you. To everyone that made any day a little more special for him, thank you. To the prayer chains and yoga meditation gatherings offered in AJ’s honor and to those who have shared AJ’s story with others that were inspired to hear of his progress and triumphs, thank you. To all of you who have spent even a moment sharing your positive thoughts and love, time and words in honor of my brother – thank you. To the most loving and devotional friend any person could ever be blessed to have, Corey – thank you.

Prayers of thanks and love to each and every one of you for taking this difficult journey with us. We continue to be overwhelmed by your love and prayers.