Chester Volunteer Firefighter Fighting Cancer

CHESTER, NJ — As a volunteer firefighter, Navy veteran, coach and dad, John McNulty is used to helping other people. Now, the community is looking to help McNulty, who is scheduled to undergo a bone marrow transplant this week to treat his leukemia.

McNulty, 31, has coached and volunteered in the Randolph, Mendham and Chester communities for years, Ruth McAndrew wrote in a medical fundraiser set up to benefit the McNulty family. After feeling a "flu-like illness" this fall, McNulty was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

"In the past five months, John has spent more time in the hospital than at home. He has been unable to work and had to withdraw from college, where he was working towards a bachelor's degree in cyber security. This has been an extremely difficult time for John and his family, especially for his daughter Shannon, who is not allowed to visit during his extensive hospital stays," McAndrew wrote.

These hospital visits included chemotherapy at Morristown Medical Center, which sent the leukemia into early remission. McNulty was scheduled for a bone marrow transplant in mid-February, which was postponed when doctors discovered a second cancer. McNulty was diagnosed with leukemia cutis, which is when cancer develops in the skin and causes lesions. There is no known cure.

"Currently John is in [Hackensack Medical Center' undergoing a fight for his life with five days of intensive full-body radiation, and two days of chemotherapy, with the bone marrow transplant on March 26," McAndrew wrote. "After his body's acceptance of his brother's bone marrow, John will have a long up-hill battle, and continue to fight the leukemia cutis, which the transplant will not cure."

McAndrew has established a GoFundMe page to help defray mounting medical costs, including alternative treatments for the incurable leukemia cutis. So far, the campaign has raised $1,510 of it's $15,000 goal.

"If you are able to donate to his cause financially, please know that any amount will be greatly appreciated from the heart. Please continue to help John and his family through your prayers and words of Healing, Strength, and Encouragement," McAndrew wrote.