MANALAPAN - Leam Acatecatl, a 9-year-old battling soft tissue cancer, encountered a big surprise Tuesday: A Hawaiian luau thrown in his honor at The Learning Experience, an early childhood education center in Manalapan.
There, the Passaic resident received news that he and his family will be vacationing in Hawaii, courtesy of Make-A-Wish New Jersey.
It was a touching moment, and one with a profound twist. The host of the luau and owner of The Learning Experience’s Manalapan branch, Karen Rosen, has walked in those difficult shoes. Four years ago her family took an unforgettable Make-A-Wish trip to New York Mets spring training in Florida as her son Bryce coped with a heart ailment.
