Disease and illness surround every one of us each and every day.
If you are not afflicted with something, there is a good chance you know someone who is. It could be a friend, a neighbor or a relative. It’s rare to get through life without a bump in the road.
Native son, friend to many and sports hero to Greater Pittston, Jimmy Cefalo announced at a Boston radio station on Aug. 21 that he had been diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma four and a half years ago. Thankfully, with the help of doctors at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Jimmy is in complete remission. Dana-Farber is a cancer and research treatment facility where clinical trials are being conducted.
According to the radio interview, only known to Jimmy’s family and close friends, Jimmy kept the diagnosis quiet until now.
Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is an asymptomatic clonal plasma disorder. According to an article in the American Society of Hematology, there have been major advances in the diagnosis, prognosis and management of SMM in the last few years.
The article went on to say that SMM has assumed greater significance on the basis of recent trials, showing that early therapy can be potentially beneficial to patients.
Jimmy appeared on the Dale & Keefe radio show along with his doctor Paul Richardson to talk about the diagnosis. He said in the interview he told his three daughters just a year ago.
Because of the care of Dr. Richardson, Jimmy hasn’t missed a day of work over the last four years.
The diagnosis came as a result of Jimmy not feeling well with what he thought was a sinus infection. When he had a follow-up visit with his doctors three months later, it was discovered his protein levels were very high.
According to Jimmy, he had “zero symptoms” of the disease. A bone marrow biopsy was conducted, a diagnosis confirmed and he was referred to Dr. Richardson.
Thirty months into the diagnosis, Jimmy took part in a clinical trial, taking three pills daily, one being a steroid. After a year of the trial, he went into remission where he remains today.
During the radio interview, Jimmy said he wanted to keep the diagnosis quiet because he had lost his work partner and former Miami Dolphin player Jim “Mad Dog” Mandich to cancer in 2011 and didn’t want to bring that into his daily radio show.
“I debated over and over and over again about that and I decided not to,” an emotional Cefalo admitted. “I lost my broadcast partner Jim Mandich to cancer and he was tough and I didn’t want to bring that in.”
Jimmy is on the right track with Dana-Farber and in the hands of Dr. Richardson where he’s monitored constantly through blood work and many trips from Miami to Boston.
Many of us here in Greater Pittston go way back in knowing Jimmy. He is one of the most successful athletes to come out of our area, playing college football for Penn State, then being drafted by the Miami Dolphins where he was able to play for six seasons, including a Super Bowl appearance where his 76-yard touchdown reception is the fifth longest in Super Bowl history.
After retiring from football, he made a career of broadcasting on the national and international stages as one of the hosts of the 24th Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea in 1988, for which he won an Emmy. He even spent time as host of the TV game show, “Card Sharks.”
He spent 13 years as sports director at the ABC-TV affiliate WPLG in Miami.
For the last few years, he’s been the voice of the Miami Dolphins radiobroadcast alongside former Dolphins Bob Griese and Joe Rose.
Since 2012, Jimmy and business partner Brenda Bassett host the radio show, “Cefalo’s – Eat This. Drink That. Go!,” which is streamed nationwide on iHeart Radio.
I first met Jimmy in my junior year in high school when he was at PSU. We had many mutual friends and were in a wedding together. It would be many years before we reconnected during his time at WPLG.
When the Newrose building mural was dedicated in 2015, Jimmy was in town. After all, he’s a big part of the mural. I had a chance to talk to him then, followed by covering him when he went to a Pittston Area home football game.
A cancer diagnosis is a very scary thing. I know first hand … been there, done that. No cancer diagnosis is a good one, but Jimmy’s cancer is a bit more serious than mine. I had a bad organ that was removed – it’s a bit different for him because it involves his blood system. It’s not an easy diagnosis.
It took a few days for my diagnosis to sink in and, when it did, I took it badly. I eventually got over it and decided to do my best to get through it. Jimmy seems to be doing the same with the support of family and friends and now contacts all over the nation, including his hometown.
Jimmy said he considers himself a very lucky man. I think I can speak for all of us from Greater Pittston and beyond, we all wish him the very best. We are all pulling for you, Jimmy!
Quote of the week
“No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you.” – Althea Gibson
Thought of the week
“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.” – Jonas Salk
Bumper sticker
“Boldness be my friend.” – William Shakespeare
