Standing By Jodi -- A Story of Community

8 weeks into JCC on the Hudson Preschool, a dad is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and the other parents step up.
By: JCC on the Hudson
 
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. - June 25, 2014 - PRLog -- Five years ago, Jodi and Michael Shapiro signed their oldest son up for the Two’s class at the JCC on the Hudson in Tarrytown (Westchester, NY). Jodi, like any other first time mom, was anxious about her son entering pre-school.  Would he separate well? Would he make new friends?

The start of school rolled out as expected—their new preschooler was doing great and their infant son was almost sleeping through the night.  And then, the unthinkable happened:  Michael Shapiro was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

“Within days & probably hours of Michael’s official diagnosis,” said Jodi,  “ the parents of my son’s entire Two’s class – and the staff at the JCC  ECP (Early Childhood Program) – all of whom knew our family for a total of 8 weeks, began to create this safety net that I didn’t realize would be my rock for the next 2 ½ years. “

For the Shapiro’s, “home” became a hectic place of scary medical terminology, doctor phone calls, medical scheduling, research, health care aids, doctors, nurses, and hospitals.

“The JCC was the one place where the boys and I could expect consistency, routine, and more than anything – love.  This place became our safe place.”

Michael’s disease led the couple to a team of doctors at Duke University in NC.  Every 12 weeks, like clockwork, Jodi and Michael would board a plane on a Monday, spend the night, and on Tuesday, find out if his illness had progressed or remained stable.  And, every 12 weeks, Jodi would drop her son off at the JCC and not know if she would return home with good or bad news.  That drop-off was a most difficult 15 minutes.

But, the Early Childhood director would always greet Jodi with a hug, hold her hand and let her cry if she needed to cry.  Another mom would check with Jodi’s mom to make sure that the kids had plans and carpools were taken care of.  Others would text her photos of the boys, smiling and happy.

“This community reached out in unbelievable ways–most without even knowing who I was-- classmates, friends, neighbors showed up at my door – they skipped their own kids dance classes, and karate classes – so that they could bring me dinner or make sure my boys had their playdates.

“I always knew my children were safe, and more than safe, happy,” said Jodi.  “This allowed me to focus on Michael and be present for him when we were in a foreign place, living a terrible nightmare.”

Michael Shapiro passed away in April, 2013.  The Shapiro’s continue to come to the JCC where the boys attend school and enrichment programs and Jodi serves on committees and chairs the Annual ECP Holiday Boutique to raise funds for the school and the center.

On June 2nd, Jodi was honored at the JCC on the Hudson’s 85th Anniversary Community Celebration, as embodying the generations who volunteer and promote Jewish continuity in the Westchester Rivertowns.

In her speech, Jodi said that she had learned from Michael’s illness what she had never really appreciated before, because she had never really had to, and that was the importance of “community.”

“Being able to give back to the JCC thru fundraisers and events is the least I can do – and what I want to do.  I hope to show my gratitude for the JCC with a lifelong relationship.”

The JCC on the Hudson (http:www.jcconthehudson.org) is a beneficiary agency of UJA-Federation of New York.

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Contact
Lori Robinson
***@jcconthehudson.org
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Source:JCC on the Hudson
Email:***@jcconthehudson.org
Tags:Jcc, Jewish, Preschool, Westchester, Rivertowns
Industry:Education, Non-profit
Location:Tarrytown - New York - United States
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