PITTSBURGH — Jacob Manalo was a healthy 16-year-old in 2017, but in the spring of 2018, he missed quite a bit of school due to recurring sore throats and fevers for what his family was told was the common flu.
"So I took him to the emergency room here," Lori Manalo said. "Then we never left after two-and-a-half months."
Jacob woke up last May with blurry vision, and doctors soon determined the reason was acute myeloid leukemia. He underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, thanks to his older sister Allie. However, the fight was only beginning.
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"There have been times he’s been discouraged, when he has pain," Manalo said. "But he’s never been in despair. He feels he can beat this. He’s very determined."
And fight he has, with support from people like Antonio Brown, Clint Hurdle and his friends at Chartiers Valley, especially Griffin Beattie, who wanted to do more.
After meeting with student section leaders, Beattie helped organize a fundraiser for the family at last week’s football game where everyone was "Manalo Strong."
"It was perfect," Beattie said. "He got to see everybody, knowing that they're there for him as much as I am and as much as everyone in his family. It's just nice seeing that everyone knows the situation and understands it."
"We’re a big family, no matter what’s going on," friend Ashton Franks said. "We’re always there for each other, so it wasn’t even a thought. Let's show him that we’re there for him."
"It’s very emotional," friend Jake Mack said. "Growing up with him and been really good friends with him, so it’s good to see how everyone comes together and supports him."
Those supporters will continue to do so as Jacob recovers at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC with the hopes of normalcy returning very soon.
"Being able to play baseball with him again," Beattie said when asked what he's looking forward to. "He’s still on my team. Just to be in school with him, hang out with him at our friend’s house instead of going to the hospital where he is."
It’s a tight-knit group over at Chartiers Valley, a notion that’s not lost on the Manalo family.
"It’s just been really wonderful," Manalo said. "We really appreciate it and we’re very thankful for all their support."
Once Jacob’s sister’s cells take over from the bone marrow transplant, he will be able to leave the hospital, and if all goes well, will return to high school by March.