FREWSBURG — They say it takes a village to raise a child. It turns out it takes one to help save one, too.

Jace Haase, 10, of Frewsburg was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma at the beginning of November. His mother, Chantel Swanson, said the cancer was found following a trip to the emergency room for back pain.

“It all started with an ER visit for some back pain that he had last weekend,” Swanson said. “After an X-ray and CT scan, it was discovered that he had a 10 centimeter by 10 centimeter mass in his chest. The ER doctor came in and explained about the mass and said he was looking to transfer us to Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital that night, and stated that Jace needed more testing that they were not capable of there. I was in shock.”

Swanson said they were then transferred to Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital via ambulance, and started in the ER there, where doctors explained that it was strongly suspected that Jace had lymphoma. That same day, Jace had three procedures done in the OR. A PICC line was placed, a biopsy of the mass was performed and a bone marrow biopsy was performed. These tests confirmed the doctor’s suspicions that Jace had lymphoma, specifically T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.

Swanson said the hope is that Jace will be discharged on Thursday, Nov 14, provided he continues to tolerate his chemo as well as he has been, and following that comes an intensive chemo regimen for the first 28 days.

“He will travel to Pittsburgh one or two times a week to receive treatment,” Swanson said. “The next two month phase of treatment after that will be slightly less intense but will still require travel to Pittsburgh for treatments. This will continue for about two years . After this long two year road, we all hope Jace will be considered ‘cancer free’.”

Besides the emotional impact, other challenges for Jace and his family include Swanson being off of work for two weeks, though she said her job has been very supportive, and that her wife has been trying to be home most days to get the other kids to school and home by evening to get them to bed. She said they are trying to keep their lives normal but that it has been hard for the other kids to not have both of their moms or Jace home with them.

COMMUNITY PITCHES IN

Since Jace Haase’s diagnosis a few weeks ago, the family has seen an outpouring of love and support from the local Frewsburg community, specifically in the form of multiple fundraisers that have all been started in the last weeks.

Sarah Minor Photography is doing a giveaway of one year of photos, where the winner will receive four photo session gift cards valued at $1,100 total. Minor said her giveaway is a great way to enter for a chance to win while also supporting someone in need, with 100% of the proceeds going towards the family. So far they have raised almost $4,000 in three days.

“As a mother myself, I know I would need all the help I could get if I were in those shoes,” Minor said. “Jace and his family are a part of our community, and that means something. Frewsburg, especially, is tight-knit. We’re all more than willing to do what we can, big or small, to help their family during this time. Jace is known as a warm, outgoing, and kind kid. Making sure he knows he is supported means the world to all of those who care about him. ‘Many hands make light work,’ and if we work together, we can do so much more than if we tried to help on our own. No one should go through something like this alone.”

Sarah Minor Photography’s fundraiser is open until Dec 15, with the winner to be drawn on Dec 16. Full details on how to enter can be found on Facebook.

Another fundraiser for Jace is the Frewsburg Community Old Fashioned Santa Parade, where multiple tables and volunteers will be set up to collect donations for the family. Another is a purse bingo, set for Dec 3 at the Lakewood Legion, Chautauqua Avenue. The cost is $30 for a table of 10 or more and bingo begins at 6 p.m.

Vicki Lee Lundsten has partnered with BJ Buonaiuto of the Sophisticated Shoulder to put on the event, as a part of the organization’s Mega Bingo Blast.

“Jace’s stepmom Olivia has been my middle daughter’s best friend since the fifth grade and she basically lived at my house from sixth grade to graduation,” Lundsten said. “The minute I found out that Jace had to go to Pittsburgh I wanted to help. I contacted people and within minutes had promises to come.”

Lundsten said she wanted to help Jace and his family as they are basically an extension of her own, and that the event should give a fun night out for women and men, and that all proceeds go to the family.

“It blows me away that every time someone in the area is sick within a half hour people are rallying around them,” Lundsten said. “It’s amazing, there are photos, bingo, shirts, people are so ready to help and it makes my heart happy.”

Buonaiuto said that the Mega Bingo Blast began because of help that was given to them when their daughter needed open heart surgery and a craniotomy 24 years ago. Since then, Buoniauto has worked to find ways to give back to the community, working at Hospice as the Event Manager, and before Covid there, one of the most attended events had been the Designer Bag Bingo. This bingo has helped raise funds for multiple people and reasons since they began it again.

“Our only rule for us to help is that the money stays local,” Buonaiuto said. “Chautauqua County, Northern Warren County and Western Catt County. Otherwise we travel to help others out. The first year we donated over $75,000 back. We have built it up over the years and this year we have donated over $230,000 back to the community and a total of over $750,000 since we started. I feel that we might not be able to change everyone’s life, but we should do our part and that is what I am trying to do.”

For the Mega Blast Bingo, people can come and choose which charity or person to support, including; Support JACE, Landon Strong, Feral Cat Alliance/Pip-skey’s Cat Rescue, Paula Westerdahl, Stop the 22, Hope’s Story, Suicide Prevention, Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care, Beth’s Breastie’s, Love for Luke, and Meagan Genco.

A shirt fundraiser for Jace has been started by Felicia Valone, who was approached by a friend of the family to see if there was any type of fundraiser that they could do.

“As a parent I can’t imagine what the family is going through so I feel like any little bit helps,” Valone said. “I set up a website for people to purchase shirts showing their support for him. There’s t-shirts, crew neck sweatshirts, hoodies and stickers. And a donation spot. All donations will be given to the family along with money from every shirt and sticker sold.”

While Valone said she does not know the family at all, coming from a small home town and living in the Frewsburg community, she said supporting someone like this is “just what you do”.

“If something happens to someone in the community, we help take care of each other,” Valone said. “The town is very supportive and the teachers and school are very supportive and when something like this happens to your child I feel like the last thing the parent needs to worry about is how they are going to afford gas for travel, place to stay, taking time off work.”

Valone’s fundraiser ends on Nov 21, with all orders ready by Nov 28. The fundraiser can be found at www.ucdbyfelicia.com.

One other fundraiser currently being done for Jace is by Calli Lowe, who is selling #JACESTRONG bracelets.

“When I found out Jace was sick my heart sank,” Lowe said. “As a new mom, I cannot imagine hearing the word cancer come out of our doctor’s mouth. I immediately went to thinking about ways I could help and the idea of the #JACESTRONG wristbands came to mind. It’s a tangible way to be reminded to pray for and support Jace and his family.”

Lowe also connected with Valone for the shirt fundraiser, and said she met Jace’s parents through work and her pharmacy. She said she knows them as hard working, loving, and involved people who deserve all of the help in the world. Within two and a half days, Lowe sold out of two orders of wristbands. Lowe can be contacted on Facebook to order bracelets.

“My heart is exploding over the incredible community support that has been shown so far,” Lowe said. “Life is hard for a lot of people right now but you wouldn’t know it. The community we live in exceeds my expectations of generosity and that’s no surprise. It takes an army of support and Jace certainly has the best.”

Other fundraisers continue to be organized, including charity basketball games and a Go Fund Me, which can be found at gofundme.com/f/support-jace-haases-fight-against-lymphoma.

Swanson said the support for Jace and the family in this time means a lot.

“The support from our family, friends, and the community has been so incredible,” Swanson said. “It’s so good to know that so many people are rooting for Jace to beat this and feel better. There are so many people who have reached out for fundraisers, prayers, well wishes, and support. It shows us all just how loved Jace is.”