The Power of Love: A Story of Survival and a Lesson in Hope

Written by Jack Dugan | 11.FEB.09

On Aug. 23, 2001, 6-year-old Jordan Regalbuto was thrust into the beginnings of a journey that would forever alter her life and the lives of her family. It would be a journey of pain and hardship, of fear, and sometimes even anger and resentment. Ultimately, however, Jordan’s journey would be one of love. Not necessarily love in the romantic sense, but the kind of love that comes from going through difficult times and making it through to the other side in one piece, together; the kind of love that makes whole communities stand as pillars of strength for a family bearing an unthinkable burden. And the kind of love that turns an ordinary man into a child’s personal hero and a mother’s saving grace.

On Aug. 23, 2001, Jordan Regalbuto was diagnosed with Leukemia. A once happy and healthy child had come face-to-face with the harsh realities of life that can often strike indiscriminately and without warning. Although she was given a 95 percent chance of recovery, Jordan had to endure a two-and-a-half year treatment program of chemotherapy, strong steroids and a variety of other medications that would take a toll on her young body. As expected, the cancer was sent into remission and eventually disappeared. The Regalbuto family breathed a long-awaited sigh of relief, having beaten an illness that took the lives of approximately 21,710 people in 2008, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Then on Dec. 12, 2005 Jordan and her family received devastating news. One of her routine blood tests revealed that the cancer had returned.

"When we got the news, it was like walking through a nightmare," Jordan’s mother, Danielle Regalbuto told The Spirit.

Not only did Jordan have to endure another long-term treatment program of chemotherapy and other drugs, but this time the doses were higher, the chance of survival much lower and the suffering was far greater.

"The first time around she did well," Danielle said, "But this time it was a whole different ball game. The numbers weren’t in our favor, and the treatment was really hard on her."

Jordan Regalbuto along with her friend and sister, Taylor. They sure do make a great team! Because neither her parents nor sister Taylor had the right blood type for a bone marrow transplant, Jordan was forced to endure the more painful drug regimen.

"The first time she was diagnosed she was on the swim team, and she was a strong swimmer. Obviously the treatment didn’t allow for her to continue," Danielle explained. "This time around she was a basketball player and the same thing happened."

Due to the deteriorating effects of the chemicals used to fight the cancer, Jordan’s bones and joints had become severely damaged, and she experienced a condition known as deep core decomposition that left her bound to a wheelchair, in need of a double-hip replacement.

And if that wasn’t enough, during her stay in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Jordan was fighting a virus that made her resistant to certain antibiotics. In order to control the risk of spreading it to other children, she was placed in a state of constant isolation. While other children were able to use the gyms, pools and playrooms in the hospital, Jordan had to stay confined to her room. When doctors and nurses came in to see her, she had to watch as they covered themselves in protective masks, gowns and gloves so as not to catch the virus and pass it along.

"I don’t really have the words to describe what she went through, or how we got through it," Danielle said.

It was in the midst of these difficult times that Jordan crossed paths with a man by the name of John Lynch, President of the United Way in Cape May County and Director of Sales and Entertainment for the Wildwood Convention Center. John was introduced to Jordan during a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and from that point on, they formed a relationship that would have a lasting effect on both their lives.

In April, 2006 a fundraiser was held for Jordan. John Lynch (pictured on stage) called the family up to be welcomed by all the attendees. That beautiful exchange of a smile between mom and daughter captures the spirit of this family – very loving. Jordan remembers that night and that smile and said she was looking at her mom and saying, “no crying”. Tears of joy and appreciation are sometimes hard to hold back. "I do so many fundraisers for people and I’ve met so many different people, but for some reason, Jordan and I just had a tremendous bond together and I couldn’t help but take her under my wing," John said.

"He’s one of those people that you choose to be a family member," Danielle told The Spirit.

In December of last year, Jordan was scheduled to undergo the double-hip replacement that was necessary to ever give her a chance of walking again. It was the second Christmas that she would be spending in the hospital due to her illnesses. What happened next was a miracle and an exercise in unconditional love displayed by John and countless others. When he heard that Jordan would be confined to her hospital bed for yet another Christmas, John sent out an e-mail to fifty of his friends, asking them if they could add Jordan’s name to their annual Christmas card list.

"I was hoping to get something like 100 cards for her," John said.

One of these e-mails made it to our desk here at The Spirit, and in our Dec. 17, 2008 issue we published it for our readers. Three days after sending the e-mail, John made his first trip to the post office where he discovered that Jordan had received about 300 cards. On day six, it was up to 1,000.

"Every day it seemed we would get more and more," John said. "We ended up getting cards from 26 different states, and three different countries. In my e-mail I asked people just to send cards. No presents, gifts or money, just cards. And people wrote the most unbelievable things. I had no idea that people’s hearts were that big," John added.

Entire schools, police and fire departments and ordinary citizens joined efforts to send a total of a 2,500 cards for Jordan. The day John surprised her with thousands of Christmas cards in her hospital bed, he admits, was one of the most memorable moments of his life.

"I’m not one to cry, and it was all I could do not to break down in front of her," he said. "I just hugged her and told her how much I loved her."

The following month, just last month in fact, was John’s birthday. His wife threw a surprise party for him at the local pizza hut, where many of his friends and their children came out to celebrate. As John recalls, about halfway through the party, his wife Vicky turned to him and said, "By the way, your real surprise just showed up."

"I turned to look," he said, "And there was Jordan walking through the doorway with the help of a walker. To see this child who had been confined to a wheelchair and a hospital bed for the last 18 months come walking into the restaurant was an amazing experience and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It was the best birthday present I’ve ever received."

Today, Jordan Regalbuto is winning the fight against Leukemia. Her cancer is in remission and she is up and walking. She has even been able to return to school and is counting the days until she is well enough to play basketball again.

Jordan, with her beautiful smile and warm eyes, shows us just how many people took the time to sign this particular card. The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming. It is just what Jordan needed to brighten her spirit and it did indeed help Jordan on her road to recovery. In her own words, she told The Spirit, "It was so cool how many people spent time and effort to send me the Christmas cards. People sent me pictures, made me drawings and let me know they were there for me," she said. "Walking again has been a little hard to get used to, but I know I’ll be alright."

There is perhaps no better example of love than Jordan’s story. Over the passage of many hard years, from the time she was 6 years old until now, she never seemed to give into the pain that might make one want to give up. John Lynch can attest to her strength, as he has witnessed her struggles over the years.

"She is one tough lady," he pointed out. "Not once have I heard her complain or get down on herself."

"We really want to thank the people of Philadelphia especially," Danielle added. "So many of the cards we received were from that area."

In the face of the many hardships that Americans are currently experiencing, one has to look no further than the bright smile of Jordan Regalbuto for inspiration. A fierce competitor, a survivor and a hero, she is a living example of the power of love, the love of her family, John Lynch and the love of YOU, our readers. Thank you for sharing your love with this magical young lady, and helping to make sure that what was a painful road to travel, wasn’t a road that she had to travel alone.