Support local Teenager in his battle with Cancer

Recently, a good friend of ours and her husband got the news no parent wants to hear… that their child has cancer!!

 

Reches Pasternak is 18 years old and in his last year of high school. A few weeks ago, he was admitted to the hospital with fluid in his lungs. After several tests, it was determined that Reches has a blood cancer called ALL (Acute Leukemia Lymphoma) with two tumors, one in his chest causing the fluid in his lungs, and one behind his eye. This cancer is a common cancer for children and given Reches strength and the fact that he’s still young enough that his cells are still regenerating, there is a very good chance that he will be able to beat this, however, the fight will be very long and very hard. Reches will be dealing with cancer treatments for about 3 years!

 

Reches is an amazing young man! He is very socially aware and loved by many. Reches was chosen by the Rotary Club to participate in their student exchange program where he spent a year in Germany, living with two different German families that were perfect strangers to him. Not only was he recognized as a very successful and valuable ambassador for Rotary in Germany, the final months of his time abroad was during the height of the COVID breakout.

 

When Reches was first diagnosed, he was more concerned with helping his family cope, than for himself. Even during his sickest days, Reches will share a smile that lights up the room. His positive, “this is life, lets deal with this” attitude is beyond his years and a role model for everyone around him. He has asked to share his favorite song with everyone, “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra , to accompany the attached photos. I urge you to listen to the lyrics…. That is so Reches!

 

The Pasternak family is a wonderful and loving family of 10, with 8 children between the ages of 12 to 26. Two of the children of this large and rambunctious family are currently within the adoption process to permanency.

 

Sitting around the family dinner table is always entertaining and mesmerizing where you can see the love and pride in Neta and Gill, as their children very animatedly share their day and their social views. Always happy to share what they have and happy to receive guests, you will be quickly escorted to their dinner table if you drop in for a visit near meal time. This family is a wonderful example of what it means to be a family. The love and care within this family is something we all strive to achieve and only the luckiest of us ever do.

 

Neta is probably one of the sweetest ladies one could have the honor of getting to know and a true friend. She is a very loving and giving person, always ready to help whomever is in need and never ever expects anything in return. As a retired social worker, Neta, has been a volunteer in our town, giving back to the community providing free group counseling to people in need (Community Care Durham CCD) and volunteering regularly at the local elementary school (S. A. Cawker) prior to COVID.

 

Reches has been growing his hair for a few years now with the plan to donate following his high school graduation ceremony to others fighting cancer. As circumstances would now have it, he has just finished cutting and donating it a little sooner than planned…. that’s just the kind of kid he is. He has managed to keep up his beautiful smile and his optimistic view of life, as he tries to stay strong to help his family come to grips with his own plight. This is one awesome teenager! Loving and compassionate, even while he is the one with the cancer.

 

As Reches is 18 and technically no longer a child, the family does not qualify for support from the Ronald McDonald House Foundation where families can stay while their child is in the hospital. Neta and Gill, have been travelling back and forth every single day to Toronto to be with their son, while hospitalized and feel it is also important to be home in the evenings with their other younger children who are now back in school. They are trying very hard to keep the family routine as close to normal as possible…a tall order to be sure.

 

Due to the onset of worrisome symptoms, Reches was initially admitted to our local hospital where after a few days was transferred to Lakeridge and shortly after that to Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto for immediate aggressive cancer therapy. Reches has been hospitalized full time now for 6 weeks. This week he has been granted the ability to leave the hospital and be home with his family while he continues his aggressive treatment as an outpatient, as long as he remains strong enough to do so. Reches is very happy to be able to sleep in his own bed and spend time with his family; things change every day, and we are all hoping that this will remain the case for as long as possible. The family takes and deals with the changing news on a day-to-day basis, as it comes, to ensure Reches gets the best treatment possible to fight this disease.

 

The older children are also stepping up and helping where they can, while keeping up with their own University studies. On the weekends, the family has been staying in Toronto to be with Reches. The travel costs, hotels and other costs can become quite high and they will likely soon be struggling to keep up the pace. Just to feed all the children while together in the city can quickly carry a price tag of $200 for just one meal!

 

Long story short, this family who have been stellar members of our community now needs our help and support!!!

 

Please give what you can to help this family.

 

Thank you to all who have provided their love and support for this family. Your love and encouragement have meant the world to them and they appreciate every single one of you!!!