GOFUNDME for JOE MUNISTERI—HELP JOE BEAT COLON CANCER UPDATE! 

This past Monday, February 16, our autistic superhero, Joe Munisteri, was discharged from the hospital after a pretty intense surgery due to colon cancer. (See photo of Joe dressed as a Pokémon when he came to the hospital for surgery). He is in a lot of pain. Just walking is excruciating. So, he can’t work. If you can, please donate to his GoFundMe campaign: See link: https://gofund.me/d059e7825

As of press time, his campaign has raised $4,291 towards the $50K goal. For more info about Joe, see my previous column below:

Five weeks ago, our dear friend, Rockaway Beach Autism Families board member, Joe Munisteri, otherwise known as “Joe Butterfly,” at just 35 years old, was diagnosed with colon cancer. Those of you who have crossed paths with Joe know that he is an extraordinary human being. He is on the autism spectrum and also passionately works as a direct support professional (DSP) for individuals with autism. In addition, utilizing his background in Peer Supports, he works as a mentor for individuals facing mental health challenges.

At heart, Joe is an artist who created his own galactic card game, “Butterfly Space Rescue.” He is also an author of multiple Kindle books, such as “Pantheon of Poetry: Poems about Cryptozoology, Mythology, and Folklore” and “Butterflies in Space!” And, this past October, he was a panelist at New York Comic Con, speaking on two panels about cosplay and content creation for people with disabilities.

So much more I can list about Joe’s accomplishments as a young man on the autism spectrum, but in a nutshell, Joe is an autistic superhero, adorned with the wings of a butterfly. He has overcome numerous challenges despite his autism diagnosis.

Joe independently rents an apartment with his longtime girlfriend, Nancy, owns and drives a vehicle, and has a full-time job.

However, now he is facing a formidable opponent—COLON CANCER.

In the past year, Joe also lost his lower back teeth, making eating much more difficult, affecting his confidence and mental health.

Now, Joe is unable to work. He does not get short-term disability benefits and has been stuck in the application process for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for over two years.

SSDI is a lengthy process and difficult to get approval. Most of Joe’s medical expenses are not covered as he only has straight Medicaid, thus limited with healthcare coverage. Plus, with the everyday necessities of life and not being able to make an income, Joe direly needs our help.

Funds raised will go into Joe’s ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) savings account and “Special Needs Trust.” These special accounts will ensure that Joe does not lose his Medicaid or SSDI eligibility. Funds will only be used for qualifying disability related expenses, which can include Health & Wellness, Housing, Education, Transportation, and Employment Supports to improve his independence and quality of life.

Anything you can donate will be truly appreciated. Also, please pray and surround Joe and his family with your love so he can beat this thing.

Spread the word.

This Thursday, February 19, 7 p.m., join Rockaway Beach Autism Families at our family support group meeting with special guest speaker, Katrina Visco of local wellness center, Little Waves Pediatric Therapy & Wellness. Visco is a speech language pathologist and certified breastfeeding counselor who specializes in infant feeding and pediatric feeding disorders, specifically picky eating and Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).  She is also a craniosacral and myofunctional therapist who supports families through one-to-one caregiver coaching. The meeting will be held hybrid. Families can attend in person at the Knights of Columbus (333 Beach 90th Street) or join via Zoom. For more info, including the Zoom link, visit: Rockaway Beach Autism Families on Facebook/Instagram.