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 Play
set built for ailing 2-year-old
By JOSEPH P. SMITH • Staff Writer, The
Daily Journal • August 19, 2008
BUENA -- You can get a lot of answers on where heaven might be found,
but at least a little piece is in the Creaturo family's backyard.
Months of planning and volunteer work came together Monday with the
arrival of one hefty donation -- nearly $4,600 worth of swings, slide
and climbing apparatus in a combination play set that would do a
municipal playground proud.
The gift makes a wish come true for Giavanna Krumaker, who is fighting
as uncomplainingly as a 2-year-old can against an especially difficult
cancer known as a neuroblastoma.
Gia has been hospitalized three times this year with complications from
the disease. She is prone to infection from a weakened immune system,
something that generally limits her playmates to two cousins.
Her third-stage cancer, discovered by chance in February 2007, has
targeted a kidney, her bowels and her spleen. The disease likely was
present at her birth, and it's defied chemotherapy and surgery so far.
But it hasn't kept the toddler from enjoying life.
"My future gymnast," said Toni Creaturo, lifting her only grandchild on
the play set for the first time.
"She's a monkey," Creaturo, 42, said. "She loves to climb. The more
things to climb the better."
Somewhere, Gia found energy enough to avoid a noontime nap in order to
watch the set be built.
A two-man crew from a Superior Play Systems outlet towed the makings for
the 2,400-pound play set from Norristown, Pa.
Operations Manager Nolan Kraus said the play set distributor gives out
about 100 sets a year for charitable causes.
This one was arranged through the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.
Three and a half sweaty hours after getting to the Wheat Road house,
Superior Play workers Lajuane Joe and Keith Case had the set up. It
normally takes five hours.
The set might not have made it at all Monday. Joe and Case, who are
brothers, agreed to take the load out when co-workers who had the
assignment called out from work.
Joe said the assembly work has emotional benefits. "You never go away
without leaving smiles," he said.
A mulched rubber ground cover, also donated, and a picket fence around
the set are details Gia's grandfather, Dan Creaturo, and neighbor Dave
Mazzoni are handling with help from Scotti Bros. Inc. from Vineland.
Tom Scotti and Mike Thomas were first on scene Monday morning, laying
out and drilling timbers for a border. Scotti Bros. is among a handful
of area companies that have been helping get the yard ready.
The big backyard had gone to seed over the last year and a half. "It
just wasn't a priority," Toni Creaturo explained.
Scotti was approached while working on neighbor Mazzoni's house. "I
walked over to them and was explaining to them, and he said, 'Say no
more. What do you need done?'" Creaturo said.
He recommended a call to Ferrucci Landscaping, which ended up detailing
the backyard for the family.
Heintz Tree Service last week dropped two of the old buttonwood trees
that shade the yard.
Scotti had to play bad guy for a while. He demolished the old, mostly
useless play set that was in the yard.
A very, very upset Gia watched from a window, protesting, 'Bring it
back!" All was forgiven Monday though, and he got hugs from Gia.
Toni Creaturo, who answers to "Momma," said the family request for a
play set was unusual. The foundation called two months ago to find out
what Gia wanted.
"They thought it was wonderful," she said. "The lady put me on hold to
get the other lady. She said, 'You've got to hear this.' Our home is our
castle. This is where we are all time." |
