Pasquale Bifulco sits with his wife, Saundra, son, Lorenzo, 12, and daughter, Caterina, 16, in their Turner home Monday afternoon. Bifulco, a teacher at Leavitt Area High School, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
TURNER — Leavitt Area High School teacher Pasquale Bifulco said he’s overwhelmed by the support he and his family have received since his surgery to remove a brain tumor 16 days ago.
“It’s gonna take a lifetime to give back what I’ve gotten for all the support,” the devoted family man said. “I feel very blessed. I can’t wait to be back to my normal self so I can get back to contributing to the community.”
“I can’t wait to get back to teaching and being in the classroom,” he said, where he’s taught for 20 years.
He said the hardest part is thinking about his wife, Saundra, and their children, Catarina, 16, and Lorenzo, 12.
After complaints of feeling lightheaded, tingling in his legs and hallucinations, he had a seizure July 20 at home, Saundra said. After a biopsy and tests, it was confirmed he had a stage 4 glioblastoma, the same type of brain tumor U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona is being treated for.
Four days after the seizure and a visit to the emergency room, CMMC neurosurgeon Daniel Lecerte removed 80 percent of the tumor.
“He’s jumped a lot of hurdles so far,” Saundra said.
And while Pasquale is recovering, help has poured in from relatives, the school and the community, she said.
“The community effort has been unbelievable,” Saundra said. “People have brought food, gift cards for coffee places and restaurants.”
Her niece Ashley started a GoFundMe page and her niece Jessica is making bracelets with the words “Bifulco Strong.”
The the high school football team and some teachers split and stacked wood the family recently purchased, brought more wood and mowed the lawn.
“I knew I was married to a really special guy,” Saundra said. “But I didn’t know so many other people thought so. There is so much love being extended to him.”
The Sunday before his surgery, nearly 15 people from Victory Christian Church in Livermore, where they attend services, came through singing and praying for Pasquale, she said.
“As a teacher, his kids adore him, and he has been getting calls from past students to see how he’s doing,” she said. “The phone never stops.”
In addition to the GoFundMe page, Ken Allen, husband of her friend, Darla Allen, is part of a motorcycle fundraiser that will see proceeds going to the Bifulcos.
Their friend Rachel Pack held a food drive at Boofy Quimby Memorial Center in Turner and showed up to the Bifulco home with over 10 bags of food and necessities.
And the high school is planning a community walk-athon during homecoming weekend.
“He doesn’t think he deserves any of this, but it’s coming back from all the generosity he’s extended through the years,” she said. “He deserves all that he’s getting. It’s a direct result of all he does. He volunteers for everything. That’s just the way he is.”
Pasquale moved from Italy to the United States at 13. A classical guitarist, he speaks and writes three languages and is known for his bread and his pasta sauce.
Saundra said he makes birthday cakes for students’ birthdays and makes a big spaghetti dinner for the soccer team every year.
She handling the calls from those who want to help.
“His job is just to do well,” she said.
Plans are to go to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for consultations to see what can be done next.
“They have technologies and resources we just don’t have here,” Saundra said.
“I don’t want lack of resource(s) to be the reason he can’t get treatment,” she said. “It’s going to cost a lot of money.”
“He has a lot going for him — he’s young, healthy, and was training for a 5K. You wouldn’t know it now, but he’s Mr. Positive.
“He’s been my rock for 25 years,” Saundra said.
Daughter Catarina said she’s “blessed to have the dad that I have.”
Son Lorenzo said he knows his father will be OK.
“He’s going to get through this because he’s really strong,” he said. “I refer to him as a champion.”
Their mother expressed the same optimism.
“Our belief in Jesus and God is what will get us through this,” she said. “We’re not understanding why this is happening but believe there must be a bigger purpose. Ultimately, God is the one in charge. It’s important for people to know that we’re walking the walk through faith and support.”
She said, “He’s going to fight for us, for our kids, for his students. We need him, and I know a lot of people who need him. I know no matter what, we’re going to be OK.”
abcullen@sunjournal.com
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