Community rallying behind 'Big Brother' CJ

People are rallying to help this little guy, CJ Lehman, who is battling cancer. He and his family make weekly trips to Geisinger for treatments.

A young boy with an infectious smile and a tremendous medical challenge is winning his way into the hearts of people in and around Cameron County.

Cameron James (C.J.) Lehman, just weeks short of his third birthday, is battling lymphoblastic lymphoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. Left unchecked, the disease could spread to his lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver and kidneys.

C.J., the son of Jim and Lorah Lehman of Rich Valley, must undergo chemotherapy treatments for upwards of two years. That requires weekly 300-mile round trips to G e i s i n g e r Medical Center in Danville.

"We keep praying to God that He will see us through," said Lorah Lehman, who gave birth to the couple's second child, a boy, on Wednesday.

In mid-January, friends and neighbors placed collection jars at several Emporium businesses. Within days, they delivered more than $500 to the Lehmans to help cover traveling expenses.

Parishioners of the Rich Valley Methodist Church have also taken up a collection for the family and the Emporium Moose will hold a spaghetti dinner benefit.

The Lehmans moved to Cameron County from Reading about two years ago. The cancer was discovered after they took C.J. to Pittsburgh Children's Hospital to investigate why he was having trouble breathing.

They don't need to look far to find a cancer success story. Lorah's mother, Grace Reed of Myerstown, is a cancer survivor.

"It's hard to see him so worn down," Mrs. Reed said. "He was very healthy and energetic before this but, even so, he still wears that smile."

The couple's neighbor, retired educator Betty Vogel, is helping to organize the community support drive. "They have a tough road ahead of them," she said. "Any contributions we can get for them will help."

Donations can be sent to the Cameron Lehman Fund, c/o Mountain Laurel Federal Credit Union, 15 Fourth Street, Emporium PA 15834.