Massapequa Park People
Luke Neuhedel
The Luke Neuhedel Foundation was established April 2002 in memory of
Luke Paul Tolson Neuhedel, who lived a miraculous 32 months with hepatoblastoma,
a rare childhood liver cancer that effects less than one in a million children
each year. His favorite things were "happy faces" as he called smiley faces,
Godzilla, and Pokemon. Luke lives on in all the children we are able to assist.
Thank you for your help.
On August 2, 1999, at the age of 9 months, Luke was diagnosed with stage IV
hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer affecting just under one in a million
children each year. Doctors gave him less than a month to live, doubtful that
the chemo would touch the grapefruit-size tumor on his liver and the 30-some
metastases on his lungs. But Luke was strong in spirit, responded well to
chemo, and had his liver resected in November 1999. While the cancer was
not visible on his liver, lung metastases reoccurred.
For two years Luke endured over a dozen chemo drugs and almost 30 surgeries.
In January 2002 metastases were found in his brain. Radiation therapy failed
to work and Luke died March 27, 2002.
Luke was known as the "miracle boy." Whenever things looked bleak, Luke shocked
his medical family with a ninth-inning rally. Luke maintained a "happy face"
throughout his treatments, charming his way into the hearts of hospital staff,
friends, family -- anyone he touched -- with his smile. They spread his
inspirational story from Long Island to London, Tibet, and elsewhere.
He reminded parents to hug their children every night. He taught people who
never thought about God how to pray. He taught his siblings compassion and
unselfishness -- and that cancer is not "bad." He taught his doctors that
children with cancer can live a wonderful life and that "quality of life"
means enjoying every day in spite of your handicaps -- even if you're
just smelling flowers or getting blood drawn.
Edward P. Romaine
Edward P. Romaine - Ed Romaine helped out here at M&R Multimedia, Inc. for
about 5 years. He opened up in the morning, answered phones, handled website
orders, and took in repairs. We became close friends and talked about food,
movies, religion, politics, and life. He loved his family very much and they
loved him. Towards the end, I had the pleasure of seeing how much he was loved
by his wonderful family and friends. I will miss you Ed.
Michael Wells, M&R.
I miss Dad terribly. He was actually named Edwardo Phillipe Romagnano (pronouned Roman-yan-o).
The name was changed to Romaine in the 1930's since Italians were blackballed then.
Romaine is actually French if I recall. He worked at Yankee Stadium. Watched Satchel
Paige play in the ballpark near Yankee Stadium. Was always into trouble/good fun.
Learned Russian in 6 weeks while in the army. Also was able to translate German.
Donnamarie, Daughter