Two and a half years ago, Gianna Morea knew something wasn't right with her son, Marciano. The usually energetic 8-year-old was tired all the time, pale, and just not himself. The mom of two followed her gut and took him to the doctor's office - there she heard the word every parent dreads: cancer. Marciano was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia in November 2022. Gianna emotionally suited up alongside her son, and that's when they began the battle. "Cancer was always just a word that went in one ear and out the other. We knew people had it. We knew people passed away, but we didn't know how severe it was until he became a victim of it. And now I have to be his advocate. I have to be his doctor. I have to be his primary caretaker, and we have to beat it."
Gianna wasn't alone in the fight; she leaned on the Union Township, New Jersey community. The police department became like an extended family, and through the force, she was connected to Lowe's store manager, Pete Alborano. When Pete heard about what Marciano was going through, he had only one question: "How can I help?"
We not only work here, but we also live here; this is our hometown. I want to be part of the community. Our families go to school and live here, and it's just that hometown feel.
Marciano did have a request. He wanted to be the boss, but due to COVID and his illness, getting the then 8-year-old into the store was too risky. Pete promised to get him into a red vest as soon as he rang the cancer-free bell.
Fast forward nearly three years later, after countless chemotherapy sessions, endless appointments and the poking and prodding that comes with cancer, Marciano, now 11, is one of the lucky ones - he beat cancer. And he was going to collect on that promise.
Wearing a custom red vest fit just for him, Marciano took over the Lowe's in Union Township. Leading the morning huddle, mixing paint to revamp his room (a bright cobalt blue to his mother's chagrin) and even directing forklifts (with adult help and supervision) were all activities as part of Marciano's experience as "store manager" for the day. His favorite parts were keeping a watch on security cameras and getting a lesson in seasonal plants; he even picked out a low-maintenance plant for his mom.
After an adventurous few hours in his managerial role, Marciano had one more commitment: school. After heartfelt hugs and goodbyes, the Union Township Police Department transported him in a Hummer. A pretty good day in the life of an 11-year-old, and a meaningful one for all involved, especially Pete. Seeing him smile, relax, and forget what he had to go through. Seeing his mother also smiling was just the best part of it."
