The Cutillo Family

Our good friend John was recently diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer. The day after the Super Bowl he started the chemo part of his aggressive treatment plan (couple rounds of chemo and radiation, then surgery, then possibly more chemo).

Please read below to see how his family came into our lives and how much they mean to us. Or just skip to the last paragraph to see why I’m hoping to raise money for their medical bills

My family moved into our neighborhood in July 2008. My husband Cory, our 2 kids Elizabeth (2) and Jaxon (1), and our dog Bomber. We didn't get to know many of our neighbors in the first year here. We both worked (about 45-60 minutes away) and had 2 toddlers who were in daycare full-time. And to be honest, I was kind of introverted...not the type to just walk up and strike a conversation with people I didn't know. But shortly after we moved here - my friend Kathleen was over, and she recognized one of my neighbors who was pulling a wagon (I think) with some little boys in it. She went to high school with John and recognized him as one of our IT guys (we worked at Pfizer at the time). Soooo...in the course of that year - I still didn't really see John around the house - but I would say hi to him at work and I got props for knowing an IT guy who would come when we called AND who knew what he was doing. Just after a year of moving into our new home, my husband was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia...and died 2 days later.

As you might imagine - I shut down. I didn't really want to talk to anyone on the phone and I didn't care about work in those first few weeks. My boss Mary (who likes to talk as much as I like to tell stories) - kept calling and insisting I call her back. And I just didn't. And then one day - John and Melanie showed up at my front door. Mary was calling because she wanted me to fill out paperwork for short-term disability and she wanted to make sure I got all the benefits and time off that I could. And when she couldn't reach me - she hunted down John and pretty much threatened him to come knocking to hand me the paperwork directly. I'm guessing he was not thrilled with the prospect of knocking on some 34 year-old widow's door, someone he barely knew, telling me to call my boss...and I'm guessing he forced Melanie to make that long, dreadful walk over (there's 1 house in between us). And let me tell you - a lifelong friendship was born that afternoon.

After we laughed about the way we were all forced into this encounter - we started talking. My kids were 2 and 3 at the time...and I learned they had THREE BOYS - 1, 2, and 3 years old. Even with their 3 under 3 kids...they offered to do SO MUCH to help me out. Our kids instantly became friends - little shrimpy friends (Ethan and Jaxon are still best friends to this day). Liz was old enough to go to a group (Nello's Corner) for kids who had lost a parent (or guardian) - and I got to meet with the guardians who waited - support for both of us! But Jaxon couldn't go until he was 3. So, every week (or every other, I forget) - John would go to Play and Learn (in Collegeville) and pick up my son and take him all the way home to Gilbertsville for me (meeting was in Skippack). He would take my 2-year-old son home to his wife and their 3 boys, and they would feed him dinner, bathe him, and treat him like their own...until Liz and I got home and went to retrieve him. And we had just met! John was also my go-to guy to let Bomber out if I wasn't coming straight home from work. He was always willing to go let him out for me...and he would always turn on my porch light for me before locking up and leaving. I will never forget that. John also came to help carry Bomber (85 lb. American Bulldog) out to the car for our final trip to the vet...with Ethan coming to give him a special goodbye. So many things that I will NEVER FORGET that involve each one of the Cutillos!

So that all started in 2009 and now it's 2023 - our kids’ vacation with each other (well just Jaxon and Ethan)...Liz and Brendan are both driving, and Noah is almost a legit hockey star. John went from Pfizer to ABC to starting his own general contracting business. Melanie has been in school most of the years I've known her - started with a nursing degree, then her Master's...then something else (PhD maybe) and is a nurse practitioner who also started her own Medical Spa business (I had an amazing facial from her a few months ago).

But 2023 came in like a literal wrecking ball for them. Melanie's dad was just put on hospice - he has been suffering with early-onset Alzheimer's/progressive dementia for many years now. Piled on top of John’s diagnosis…for which treatment was started almost immediately…it’s A LOT!

Now, this family that was a HUGE part of my support system when I didn't want to get out of bed most days - is struggling. They have 3 teenaged boys (Brendan is a junior, Ethan is a sophomore, and Noah is a freshman) that are going to be graduating soon and going to college (or straight to the NHL - I joke with Noah and tell him he better not forget me when he's famous). 2 of the boys have/will soon have after school jobs and 2 of them also play hockey...they've got a lot to manage! Melanie had to shut down the Medical Spa and is working 3 jobs. John has had to take a pause from his own company doing general contracting. He is limited to what he can do the next few months - based on how he feels after each treatment. I have never seen this guy sit still (in fact, right before his diagnosis - he was over here painting my front door and all of my shutters)...so I'm sure the side effects (fatigue, neuropathy, loss of taste, inappetence, etc.) that he's already been dealing with are already driving him bonkers! We all hope that a year from now, we will looking back on this diagnosis and laugh!!!

So, my friends, or friends of friends, or strangers - I hope you've taken the time to read this and are as in love with this family as I became overnight. If you're able to donate any amount towards the exorbitant medical bills (yes, even with insurance) - it would be so immensely appreciated by their entire family.

Thank you for reading, donating, praying, or sending good vibes - annnnnnndddd.....F#@K CANCER!