Support David's Fight Against Aplastic Anemia

David was diagnosed with severe Aplastic Anemia in May 2025. Aplastic anemia is a rare and life-threatening blood disorder caused by the bone marrow not functioning properly. In people with aplastic anemia, the bone marrow fails to produce enough of all three types of blood cells – red, white, and platelets. Red blood cells are essential for carrying oxygen around the body, white blood cells help us fight infections, bugs, and germs, and platelets are responsible for stopping us from bleeding and bruising. The word ‘aplastic’ means the body’s inability to create new cells, so that tissue cannot grow or regenerate.

In David's case, it is idiopathic meaning they do not know what caused his bone marrow to fail. David needs platelet transfusions approximately 2x a week as well as blood transfusions. He has been receiving them at the Valerie Center in Morristown. Due to being severely immunocompromised, he was unable to finish out his school year and will be missing much of in person learning this upcoming fall/winter.

Treatment options for his disorder are immunosuppressant therapy to try and restart his immune system or Bone Marrow transplant. Fortunately, his oldest sister Francesca is a 10/10 match (only 25-30% of siblings are 10/10 matches) so they are preparing for a Bone Barrow Transplant. This involves a week of chemotherapy, rATG followed by the transplant.

David has been in and out of the hospital for stays from 3 days to 2 weeks (as of 7/8 he has been admitted for a total of 27 days). A fever of 100.4 requires being admitted. He has currently been in for 2 weeks due to mucositis (Mucositis is a painful inflammation or ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the gastrointestinal (GI) tract) due to extremely low neutrophil counts.

His mom, JoAnne has not been able to work due to his transfusion appointments and hospital stays. He will soon head to Philadelphia for at least 4 weeks, possibly up to 100 days. Funds raised would go to medical bills not covered by insurance, travel expenses for the family, and to help with the reduced family income while JoAnne is caring for David and unable to work.

The Madalena Family has volunteered and helped our community so much through the years. Both parents, JoAnne & David Sr., are Scout leaders and all 3 children, Francesca, Nadia, and David, have gone through Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Through their service focused family they have given hundreds of hours to help improve the quality of life in our town and the surrounding area. It's time we return the favor and help this wonderful family through this extremely difficult time.

The family put off having a GoFundMe set up, until it was absolutely necessary. They were hoping they wouldn't need it and they could go back to life as normal; but that is not the case. Please help any way you can: make a donation, share this GoFundMe, or say a prayer. Thank you.

This GoFundMe was created by family friends and the Scout Leaders: Lynda Cavallo, Christine Delurski & Suzanne Zinsli with the blessing of the Madalena Family. All money raised goes directly to JoAnne Madalena.