My name is Michele Graffis from Bethlehem,PA. Friends of ours,Laura, Steve,Katie, and Sarah Neary are at Justins Beach House this week! We think that this is an awesome way to honor your son, Justin! We love the Neary family!

Our 21 year old son, Derek, died this past December. He was diagnosed with ALL in March of his senior year-2008. He did well through 2009 and relapsed in March 2010. He had a bone marrow transplant last summer and was able to come home feeling pretty well. During the early fall, he had difficulty eating. The doctors realized that he had graft VS host in his intestines and it later went to his liver. He passed the week after he turned 21. He is greatly loved and deeply missed!

This summer, through his memorials to Angel 34 Foundation, they were able to send 8 families to the beach for DEREK’S CAMP FLIP FLOP. My husband, Dale, 17 year old son, Andrew, and I were able to spend a lot of time with the families. My friend and I were chatting about how great it would be to have a house for families to go to at the beach. Derek never missed a summer at the beach. We drove down for the day last summer after transplant.

I admire you for doing this in your son’s honor and for all the kids and families going through cancer treatments!

We decided to continue collecting blankets for the children’s hospitals in Dereks honor. You can read his story at derekshugs.org.

Many Blessings to you on your journey!

Michele Graffis