Tinley Park Family In Cancer Battle Gets New Roof, Good News

TINLEY PARK, IL — As storms hovered over Tinley Park Wednesday evening, Tom Teare was a lot less worried than he would have been months prior. With a new roof now over his family's head, Teare could breathe a sigh of relief.

Teare's 6-year-old son Joshua bounced around in the background as Teare spoke to Patch, asking if Teare could put on some cartoons as thunder began to roll. It was a doubly sweet moment for the father, whose family has been consumed by Joshua's battle with a rare kidney cancer since May 2022.

Just in time for the recent round of storms, the family was the recipient of a new roof courtesy of an Oak Forest man and his home remodeling company—but also with the powerful help of Oak Forest-based nonprofit Project Fire Buddies.

Teare called the organization a "God-send" in such an intense, emotional period for him and his wife Maria, and children Delaney, 20, Emily, 17, Tommy, 14, Molly, 8, Joshua, Oliver, 4, and Olivia, 6 months. Joshua also has three siblings from Teare's previous marriage: Dakota, Brianna and Riley.

Teare "never dreamed, in a million years," that the organization would provide such support for his family. He spoke of CEO Kurt DeGroot, and his hand in helping them.

"I can’t thank Kurt and the Fire Buddies enough," Teare said, "because you don’t realize how much of a financial strain you’re put under with something like this.

"You’re going to do everything and anything you can to help your child."

Joshua was diagnosed as a preschooler in May 2022 with Wilms tumor, a rare kidney cancer that mainly affects children and is also known as nephroblastoma. Doctors diagnosed Joshua after finding a large tumor on his left kidney. Doctors removed the kidney, and Joshua underwent six rounds of radiation and nine months of chemotherapy.

After his diagnosis, he was taken under the wing of Project Fire Buddies, an Oak Forest-based, volunteer-led effort by local fire departments to show support for children and families battling critical illness.

First started in 2016, Project Fire Buddies has expanded now to more than 30 different departments including south suburban Oak Lawn, Palos, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Midlothian, Homewood, Lockport, Lemont, New Lenox, Evergreen Park, Frankfort and Country Club Hills. It was the Tinley Park chapter that led the charge to help the Teare family.

"The financial strain that that lifted, was just such a relief," Teare said. "We had just bought the house last year, and some of the money we had gotten, was to put a new roof on, do several things around the house.

"When he was diagnosed, that was all put on hold."

While Joshua underwent treatment, the Fire Buddies stepped in to lift his spirits. Joshua loves pro wrestling, with his favorite star being the famed Bill Goldberg. The Fire Buddies organized a video call for him with Goldberg, and were set to come to the family's home for it. They had gotten rain before, and Teare noticed his roof was leaking. He sheepishly asked if they could meet somewhere else for the call, instead.

In a future visit to drop off gifts for Joshua, the Fire Buddies noticed the leak. DeGroot came to Teare and said they had unanimously agreed to replace the family's roof, and that all Teare needed to do was say yes.

"I can’t thank him enough," Teare repeated. "The Fire Buddies have been amazing."

It wouldn't have happened with out Oak Forest resident Daniel Plazinski, who met DeGroot previously and expressed a desire to help in instances of need. Plazinski, who owns Daniel's Home Remodeling (708-267-2090) volunteered to contribute all the materials and labor, refusing to accept any payment, DeGroot shared on social media.

"My heart," Plazinski said, of what moved him to help the family. "My heart did."

"I know of a lot of people who need help, and I’m happy I can help them."

Plazinski has twin sons, now in their 20s, who were both born premature and suffered various lasting effects. One has developmental delays, he said. The other has cerebral palsy, Plazinski told Patch; he is just happy and grateful that his son is able to walk.

"Sometimes when I can, if someone really needs help—someone with sick children—I would really like to help," he told Patch.

"And they have a new roof, before the rain!"

Teare said with Joshua's treatments concluded and his first set of followup three-month scans complete, doctors are optimistic. He'll go for repeat scans every three months for the indefinite future.

"As of right now, we're looking at a good summer, after last year's horrible summer," he said.

Joshua loves the water and the beach, and with a port in place last summer, doctors advised his parents to avoid that setting. If doctors approve the port removal, they plan to hit the beach—and Great America, the zoo, and lots in between, Teare said.

"We’re just going to live life this summer," he said. "It’s just great to see him back to himself."