This page was written by a friend of the Biviano family through the eyes of their oldest son Joey. Listening to Joey and allowing him to share how Billy's diagnosis impacts his life allows those who love him to provide the support he needs.
My name is Joey and I am 7 years old. I live in Hillsborough (Millstone) with my mom and dad, along with my twin brothers Michael and Billy who are 15 months old. My parents waited a long time to give me a brother or sister, but instead of just one, I got two! They are growing so fast and are getting into everything. I just cannot wait until we can all go outside and play ball together.
Michael is climbing, walking, and even saying words now. He reaches up for his cup, plays in his Jump-A-Roo, and even tries to steal my toys! When I tell him “No”, he gets really mad and starts to cry. But Billy is different. He used to like to sit up and try to say words and then one day, he just stopped. My parents took him to the eye doctor who gave him glasses, but that didn’t work. When Michael was walking at their first birthday, Billy just sat there smiling, not saying a word. I would call him by name and he would not turn around, while Michael would turn around right away. We know he can hear because when he was sleeping, he would hear the floor creak when I would walk by and he would wake up. My mom and dad took him back to the doctor. This time he had to go see a specialist called a Neurologist. This doctor did special tests on Billy’s brain.
Then one day a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, Billy had to go to Morristown Memorial for a really big test called an MRI. My mom and dad were worried because he had to be put to sleep. But the worst came when a whole bunch of doctors came in to the waiting room to tell my mom and dad they found something called a tumor.
Billy’s tumor is not the like normal ones. His is pretty big and the doctors say they cannot take it out. It’s like a spider’s web, wrapped around all the important parts of the brain. The doctors did this test called a “Needle biopsy”, to find out exactly what kind of tumor it was, but even after that they still couldn’t tell what it was. My parents took Billy to all sorts of different doctors, and everyone said the same thing. “We don’t know, we have never seen anything like this,” or, “He needs more testing”. Ugh!
Right after Christmas, Billy and my parents met with another kind of doctor called an, “Oncologist”. He treats people who have tumors and cancers with special medicine. It’s supposed to make the tumor get smaller, but it can also make you really sick. Just last week Billy had to get a blood transfusion, then a few days later he got a fever and had to spend two days in the hospital. He even takes special medicine so he doesn’t throw up. Michael and I are sad and pretty scared. We hate seeing our brother so sick all the time. Sometimes we hear our mom and dad crying…..the whole thing makes us so mad and sad, that we cry too because there is nothing we can do.
So that is why I am writing you this letter with the help of one of my friends. I want you know how much we love Billy and would do anything to help him and my parents. Please join me in surrounding my family in love and saying a few extra prayers for my little brother.
- Joey Biviano
HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE BIVIANO FAMILY?
- Join the prayer chain and 'Friend' Brave Billy's Journey on Facebook: www.facebook.com/bravebillys.journey
- 'Like' Team Brave Billy on Facebook to be reminded of all fundraising details surrounding The Biviano Family. www.facebook.com/TeamBraveBilly
- Support one of the many fundraisers surrounding The Biviano Family which are detailed below. Consider attending and sharing them in your own network.
- Host a fundraiser and contact Steps Together to have it detailed on this page.
- Download this image and update your Facebook cover to help spread awareness about Billy.
- Wear a Brave Billy's Prayer Buddy bracelet to show your support. Available in adult and youth sizes, they can be purchased at Millstone Wine & Liquor (1377 Millstone River Road, Hillsborough, 908-431-9995) for a suggested donation of $3. Bracelets will also be available at all fundraisers.
- Make a donation below using the secure processing of PayPal.
A fund has been set up for Billy through the organization Steps Together. Donations made through Steps Together are tax deductible. 97% (3% credit card/paypal fee applied to online transactions) of online donations will go directly to the care of Billy Biviano.
Friday, May 17th, 7 PM: Comedy for a Cause! Please come out to Rhythms in Manville for a comedy show starring Pete Correale. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. For more information email ComedyForACause@yahoo.com or call 908-707-8757.
Enjoy a Kindermusik Playdate on Saturday, May 18th at 9:30 AM or Sunday, May 19th at 3:30 PM. 100% of proceeds will be donated to Billy! Cost per child is a suggested donation of $15. Space is limited so those attending must sign up in advance by clicking here. Click the imagine below for a downloadable flyer to share in your own network.
Sunday, June 2nd, 9 to 10 AM: Join Impact Training for Bootcamp for Billy! Please come and donate $20 (or more) for Billy and take part in a fun-filled bootcamp using cutting-edge equipment. All fitness levels are welcome age 15+, so variations to all exercises will be offered. No need to formally register....just arrive by 8:50 AM to fill out a short waiver if you are new to !MPACT. !MPACT TRAINING is located at 126 Stryker Lane, Building 24, Units 3 & 4 in Hillsborough. Bring a water bottle, gym towel and dress in athletic clothing with sneakers. For more info, email Hillarie, visit www.impacttraining-jersey.com or call 908-428-7978.
July 13th: Bowl for Billy! Carolyn Tighe will be hosting a fundraiser at Strike 'N Spare Lanes in Green Brook, NJ from 8 to 10 PM. Tickets are $20 each and will include 2 hours of bowling, shoes, dessert, coffee and 3 raffle tickets to win some incredible gift baskets. For more information click on the image below or email Carolyn at bravebillyb@gmail.com.
July: Yellow Lollipop Photography will donate 15% off all profits in the month of July to Billy. Click here to email Lollipop Photography to schedule a session.
July - September: The Biviano family will be a beneficiary of the Steps Together united walking and running team that will participate in the Steeplechase Distance Run (5K, 10K and children sprints) in Hillsborough. Click the below icon to register for the team!
October 7th: Please join Hillsborough Rotary at the Hopewell Valley Golf Club as they have chosen Billy to be the sole beneficiary of their annual golf outing. Click here for more information and to RSVP to the event. Any person or business wishing to sponsor the event, contribute items for the raffle or assist in any way should email Mike Dudzinski. Click the image below for a downloadable PDF to share in your own network.
FUNDRAISER HISTORY
Renaissance Hair Salon & Spa in Hillsborough, NJ donated 25% of products and services to The Biviano Family during the entire month of February when clients brought a coupon detailing their effort to support Billy.
On March 9th, Rebecca Newman, Deanna DeRoner & Cindy Sahns hosted a Breakfast for Billy at Applebee's in Hillsborough. 330 enjoyed breakfast and it was the largest attendance ever for a flapjack fundraiser in the Hillsborough location.
March 11th - March 13th, The Roman Gourmet Pizzeria in Hillsborough (Nelson's Corner) donated 15% of their gross sales to The Biviano Family.
March 10th - March 13th, NEC Wine & Liquors sold $5 chances to win a Jason Pierre-Paul Jersey. All proceeds were given direct to The Biviano Family.
March 3rd - March 17th, Jaime Gerard donated 100% of the proceeds from an online Thirty-One shopping event.
March 11th - April 1st, Kelly Kenney hosted a Stella & Dot Online Trunk Show and donated 100% of proceeds from jewelry purchased.
May 11th, Bounce for Billy was held at the Jump!Zone in Hillsborough. 50% of all proceeds were donated to The Biviano Family. Pretzels were donated by The Pretzel Factory and pizza was provided at a reduced rate by The Roman Gourmet Pizzeria.