Community Corner
Ridgewood Cop's Plea As Son Battles 'Devastating' Stage 4 Cancer
Every time they've turned a corner since learning the diagnosis, the father said, it's been "devastating." Now they need help.
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — After investigating Cole's stiff neck, something didn't "sit right" with the pediatrician, his father, a local police officer, said. So she ordered blood work.
Follow-up blood work in the Hackensack ER turned from just anemia to a small mass on his kidney to a CT Scan that showed a much bigger problem.
Every time they've turned a corner since learning the diagnosis, Kevin McKeon said, it's been "devastating."
Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"This came as a complete shock to us since he showed no significant signs of being sick," McKeon said in a GoFundMe page created for the family.
Now people are rallying around the son of the Ridgewood police officer whose 2-year-old son is battling an aggressive form of cancer.
Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Kevin McKeon's son, Cole, was just diagnosed with stage four Neuroblastoma, a fast-moving cancer in a tumor near one of his kidneys.
Cole is being treated at the Pediatric Oncology Department at Hackensack University Medical Center.
A group that uses the hashtag #ColesCrew, has raised more than $10,000 on the GoFundMe page to help the family pay for medical bills.
"It's going to be a long year or more. What we need from you is thoughts and prayers," McKeon said. "Don't feel sorry for us. Feel positive and optimistic that Cole makes it through this with as little difficulty as possible."
McKeon's brothers in blue and his wife's colleagues at the Bullock School in Montclair have supported the family through Cole's diagnosis and treatment.
"Hug your kids, go donate blood, and let us be the ones to lose sleep over this news, not you," McKeon said. "Life will go on and Cole will be a part of it for a very very long time."
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Photos: Kevin, Stephanie, and Cole McKeon (Photos courtesy of gofundme a promotional partner of Patch)
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