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WPEC-TV CBS12 News :: News - Palm Beach County News - Fundraiser helping Jupiter teen Michael Kalisz with his fight against cancer

Fundraiser helping Jupiter teen Michael Kalisz with his fight against cancer

JUPITER, Fla. -- A fundraiser was at the Tropical Smoothie in Jupiter for 14-year-old Michael Kalisz, diagnosed with cancer back in November. You'd think that would be the worst thing his family has had to endure, but that's not even scratching the surface.

Michael Kalisz looks like any other kid his age, throwing around a football, sporting his Celtics jersey. But it's what doctors found underneath his jersey last November that sent off alarm bells, three growths on his neck and back.

Deborah Kalisz, Michael's mother: They sent them off for biopsies and they came back as displastic melanoma.

CLICK HERE to learn more about helping Michael Kalisz

Michael Kalisz: I've just been scared and nervous not knowing what's going to happen.

While scared of what was ahead for him, Michael continued to push along knowing he had his parents to pull him through the surgeries and treatments.

But on April 20, his father died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack, in Michael's room.

Michael was the one who found his father lifeless, and hasn't stepped foot behind this door since.

Michael Kalisz: Knowing that he passed in there, it didn't feel right to go in there.

Deborah Kalisz, Michael's mother: Michael's father passed away very peacefully, but it was the hardest thing because he was the strength of the family.

Michael though, has incredibly pushed on. He still manages to make the honor roll at school.

Deborah Kalisz, Michael's mother: Every 9 weeks he's made honor roll and we've been very proud of him.

His next surgery comes this Thursday. But ever since his father passed, Michael's mother, unemployed has struggled to keep the family afloat. Tropical Smoothie in Jupiter is doing all they can to help, donating 15 percent of the proceeds toward Michael's expenses.

Tropical Smoothie employee: Makes me feel good. I like helping out people.
Fundraiser helping Jupiter teen Michael Kalisz with his fight against cancer

Friday, June 22 2012, 03:01 PM EDT

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