Help Pastor Jojo's Journey to Recovery

My name is Joy Berninger and I am grateful and blessed to be helping Pastor Jojo Cancelliere on his long road back to recovery. His daughter, Joelle, can best sum up what the last few months have been like for their family.

"Two years ago, our world was rocked when my father was diagnosed with cancer. Three months ago, our world was flipped on its head when I got a call I will never forget.

In the summer of 2023, my greatest fear in life– losing my best friend–suddenly became a potential reality. If you know my dad, he doesn't broadcast his business. He's a private person who just wants to share one thing: the love of Jesus. For two years, he used this diagnosis to reach more people and touch more lives. Through chemo, radiation, and countless doctor appointments, he continued to live life to the absolute fullest.

On October 11, 2024, everything changed. While finishing his usual workout routine at the gym, my dad approached the front desk. Glassy-eyed, non-responsive, and sitting by himself, the Retro Fitness employees who were always so friendly with him knew something wasn't right. They called 911 and my dad was rushed to the hospital.

My dad was alive, but a life threatening blood clot in his neck tried to take him from us within a matter of hours. The doctors informed us that the stroke he suffered due to the clot was deadly, and he was lucky to be alive. We know, of course, that Jesus had other plans.

Fast forward three months...from hospital to rehab...back to hospital and rehab... then hospital again...and FINALLY home...here we are. My dad has come leaps and bounds in his recovery. Ever the fighter, he has worked so hard with the doctors and nurses providing life-changing therapy. I can't express how proud I am of him as he fights mental, physical, and emotional battles every day.

But there is still a monster in the room. It's name is cancer. The stroke couldn't take him, but this disease is threatening to. The fear of losing my best friend to this giant is back with a vengeance. Due to the doctors’ recommendation, my father is no longer receiving chemotherapy treatments. My head has been spinning, wondering how my dad, who just suffered a massive stroke and is paralyzed on half his body, can fight this disease with no chemotherapy or radiation. When we heard the doctors’ words–the ones you think only exist in movies– "We're sorry, there's nothing more we can do to help," they left us hollow. Hopeless.

Desperation and love drove me to far corners, looking for a better way forward. After doing more research on stage 4 cancer than I ever thought I would be doing in my life, I came across alternative forms of therapy, proven and shown to reverse the type of cancer my father has. I put my faith out there, and started making the calls. Countless hours on the phone finally yielded some response. I was told that my father was a good candidate for this new therapy... but only a few patients are accepted. I wasn't about to get my hopes up. I knew the odds of my father actually being accepted to receive these treatments was a stretch, but then making the drive halfway across the country was next to impossible. God would have to intervene.

One day after Christmas, God intervened. I received the call that said not only was my father chosen and accepted to receive this non-invasive therapeutic treatment, but he would not have to make the journey to a facility. They would send a care team to him, right to his front door. We could not have even hoped for this in our wildest dreams. A true Christmas miracle.

Here we are. With all medical treatment completely stopped, this therapy and our faith in The One True Healer is the only real hope we have. I don't believe my father’s journey is done. He has more lives to touch, more weights to lift, and more sermons to preach. If there is anything you can contribute to help him receive this care, we would be so grateful. If you are unable to contribute, and can only share my father's story with others, we would be so appreciative for that as well.

Thank you all. For your love, support and never ending prayers. Merry Christmas. Happy New year, and God Bless." - Joelle

Pastor Jojo became my stand-in-dad when my father unexpectedly passed on June 1, 2019. I am so grateful and honored to support this beautiful family in any and every way. We’ve prayed a lot of prayers over these last months. Now there's a tangible need that we all can help to meet. Please join me in sharing this story and generously donating to help cover these expenses, and giving real hope in this Christmas season.

Thank you all, stay blessed.

-Joy Berninger