It’s easy to see why St. Joseph High School is rallying around Eli Swierczewski and his second battle with cancer.
Classmates, teachers and friends describe the senior with a broad infectious smile as a great person. He’s an A-student who plays soccer, basketball and his favorite, baseball, and is also a member of the school’s Spartan Leadership Team.
Swierczewski, 18, was diagnosed with his second bout of Ewing’s sarcoma in October.
This type of cancer occurs in bones or in the soft tissue around the bones. It usually begins in the long bones of the pelvis, legs or arms, but it can occur in any bone. It can also arise in the soft tissues of the arms, legs, abdomen or other locations.
Swierczewski beat the disease a first time when he was in seventh grade. A tumor was found in his right arm. Surgery and chemotherapy removed it.
This time, the diagnosis of spots on his lungs seemed to come out of nowhere, said his mother, Pam Swierczewski.
“It had been four-and-half years and there was no sign of anything,’’ she said.
Her son has already begun chemotherapy, she said.
“The first time, the chemo lasted for a year. This time we don’t have a length of how long this round will last,’’ Pam Swierczewski said.
Eli Swierczewski broke the news of the recurrence to the basketball team before practice began for his senior season. He’d have to miss his senior season, he told his teammates.
“That was really tough,’’ said Dominic Fellowes, a senior who has played with Swierczewski on the basketball and baseball programs. “I got really emotional during practice afterward. We just have to play hard for him. It makes this season so much more important.’’
The school quickly jumped in and put together an all-encompassing plan to help the family.
“Immediately after the shock was over, we knew we needed to do something right away,’’ said Shane Palumbo, admissions director at St. Joseph. “The students on the leadership team wanted to bake cookies and sell them.”
“But this is what we do here. We do what we have to. We are praying in all the classrooms, and someone donated rosaries for them as well. Eli’s such a tremendous person. We are doing everything we can to help.’’
Swierczewski admits he doesn’t like the spotlight but is appreciative of the support.
“I do think (St. Joseph) is something special, but I think the whole area has been supportive beyond anything I could have imagined,’’ he said. “I don’t know how to put it in words. It’s fantastic.’’
Pam Swierczewski echoed her son’s feelings.
“It’s been overwhelming the amount of prayers we have received,’’ she said. “They will do anything for us.
“We are so thankful for everything the kids have done. We are really blessed.’’
The St. Joseph Athletic Association is spearheading the fundraising. Short and long-sleeved T-shirts are currently being sold for $10 and $15 respectively. The association also is selling wristbands for $5 and have sold more than 500 in a short time.
“After it came out that Eli would miss playing basketball, we had so many people wanting to help that we wanted to make sure we had everything organized,’’ said Jackie Fellowes, who is heading the efforts for the athletic association.
The association is hosting a dinner at 5:30 p.m. March 7 at Patterson Hall at Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament School in Harrison. The cost will be $10.
“We want it to be a fun evening,’’ Jackie Fellowes said. “We want it to be uplifting. We are going to have entertainment and basket raffles to raise money.’’
St. Joseph has been a family affair for the Swierczewskis.
Eli’s older brother, Ethan (Dayton University), and sister, Anna (Franciscan University), graduated from St. Joseph. His younger sister, Ally, is a junior at St. Joseph. Another sister, Emma, is an eighth-grader at Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament School.
“Anything we can do to support him is important. If it’s helping with homework, or getting him notes when he isn’t here,’’ said Ava Swanson, a senior and longtime friend of Swierczewski’s. “With close friends, it’s always easier to talk if they need anything.”
Senior Andrew Sullivan, who has played all three sports with Swierczewski, said his teammate’s athletic ability is missed on the basketball team.
“It’s rough without him out there,’’ Sullivan said. “I can’t imagine how hard it would be not playing.
“But (St. Joseph’s) is a community. We will come together and help the family any way we can.’’
There are not enough ways for Eli Swierczewski to tell everyone how much he appreciates what they’re doing for him.
“First, I want to thank my parents,’’ he said. “They have been honest with me the whole time and told me things first.
“I want to thank my friends for all the support and talking with me. And I want to thank Mrs. Fellowes. What she has done and what she has put forth is outstanding.’’
