Bethel Park, police communities support Fabus family
Bethel Park librarians Sarah Ronco, Don Hurley and Jackie Williams hold a large banner along Brightwood Road Monday in support of the family of 8-year-old Joey Fabus, who died from an inoperable brain tumor.
Mary Komopelski said her heart breaks for the Fabus family after they lost a second child.
Nearly a dozen youth football, baseball and basketball players and their parents from the Bethel Park school district came out to support the Fabus family.
Police departments came from all over Allegheny County, as well as Wheeling, W.Va., and Washington County.
Police were joined by volunteer fire company vehicles and AAA trucks.
Becky Geronimos and her two children could have enjoyed a snow day but said it was important to show support for the Fabus family.
Bethel Park District Magistrate Ron Arnoni swears in Joey Fabus as a police officer last June 2, which was designated at Joey Fabus Day in the borough.
Church bells rang, and wet, cold snow fell on dozens of Bethel Park residents holding “Stay Joey Strong” signs who lined Brightwood Road Monday as vehicles from at least 30 police departments led a funeral procession to St. Bernard’s Church in Mt. Lebanon. The community came out to support the family of 8-year-old Joey Fabus, who died from an inoperable brain tumor.
Police as far away as Wheeling, W.Va., joined AAA vehicles and local police from Peters, Mt. Lebanon and Scott townships who drove past supporters as young as 5.
“None of these kids knew Joey, but they’re here showing their support,” said Sherri Grady of her children and the dozen or so youth football players beside her.
“The owner of Bethel Park Printing provided us these signs,” Grady said as she passed around sheets that read “Stay Joey Strong” written over a yellow ribbon graphic. Others made their own signs.
“We have signs up at the library, as well,” said Bethel Park librarian Sarah Ronco as she and others held a huge painted banner, “and we plan to do a program on heroes in the spring that will include Joey as part of it.”
Becky Geronimos and her two children could have enjoyed a snow day from school, but there they were in front of the T station waiting in the snow, not bothered that the procession was 20 minutes late.
“They need us. They need this community to show how much we know what they’re going through and they’re not alone,” she said.
While most were clustered either for warmth or simple solidarity, a bespectacled woman stood alone near the top the hill with a sign that read “Rest in Peace our little Angel.” Mary Komopelski said her heart aches for the family.
“To lose a second child, it’s unthinkable. My heart just absolutely breaks for them as a mom,” said Kompelski, who has two children in college. The Fabus family lost their 15-month-old daughter, Hannah, from complications of kidney disease. David and Cindy Fabus have four other children, two boys and two girls.
The outpouring of support wouldn’t have been possible without coordination from Bethel Park police Officer Tom Rigatti, who also arranged for Joey Fabus to become a police officer for a day last summer.
“This is to honor his courage. My partner was an inspiration to us all,” Rigatti said. “He’s being laid to rest in police uniform with full honors.”
Joey becoming a police officer was one of the wishes he was granted as he battled a terminal prognosis that ultimately took his life Jan. 21.
“His transition to Heaven was peaceful and very memorable for all of us. … We were with Joey the whole time. We all had our handprints in paints and molded before he passed away,” said Joey’s mother, Cindy Fabus, in a public Facebook post.
“I’m either in too much shock to know it or I am really OK with the fact that he is finally at peace, ” said Joey’s father, David Fabus, in a Facebook post. “I personally think it’s the latter, even though that may shock some people. I am really glad that he no longer has to struggle to walk, talk, see and hear. Over the past few months, his condition was deteriorating and it was heart wrenching to watch him struggle with all the symptomatic issues of this terrible disease.”
A Facebook group called Joey’s Journey documented Joey’s life with hundreds of photos of parties, pumpkin carvings, river boating and even target practice. It’s also where the family listed a GoFundMe account to help offset medical, and now, funeral costs. The fund aims for a $50,000 goal, and as of Monday, $20,545 dollars were donated by 298 people in nine days. The website to donate is http://www.gofundme.com/kbax1c.
Children who are diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, the type of brain tumor Joey had, usually don’t survive beyond nine months. To battle it, doctors blasted his body with radiation and prescribed an intensive regimen of steroids, which ravaged his body and made him gain weight and lose muscle strength.
“Since his hospitalization in October, he slowly lost the ability to walk on his own and couldn’t walk up and down stairs, let alone get into bed without help. When I carried him up and down the steps to get into the van, he was always so apologetic. When we assisted him up and down the interior steps to go to and from bed, he was always sorry that we had to help him,” David Fabus said.
“I feel so terrible that our baby boy had to go through this terrible journey. At least he had parents and siblings who gave him every ounce of love they could give him.”
On Feb. 2, all girls basketball teams in Section 4-AAAA will wear T-shirts honoring Joey and raising awareness about DIPG tumors.