IN MEMORY OF MOM: 12-year-old - and friends Shae & Dariana Brazil- take on the fight against breast cancer

By JAMES FURBUSH
The Patriot Ledger

No matter how sick she felt, Susan Jewells never missed a morning seeing her son, Matt, off to school on the bus and cooking him breakfast. And Matt, 12, remembers looking back at his mom, still dressed in her pajamas, from the bus stop to snap a mental image of her that would carry him through the school day at Williams Middle School in Bridgewater.

With breast cancer spreading throughout her body, Susan and Matt Jewells both knew any of those mornings could be their last.

Jewells, a native of Pembroke, was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2004. After an initial lumpectomy and then chemotherapy, her breast cancer went into remission.

‘‘But there was never a break from it at all,’’ said her husband, Blaine Jewells, 38. ‘‘Susan had six different operations in two years. It was one thing after another from the first diagnosis.’’

Even though Susan’s breast cancer went into remission, she needed

surgery to remove her gall bladder and then her thyroid to stop the cancer from spreading. And then her breast cancer came back in a more aggressive form. Jewells died Aug. 26. She was 38.

‘‘It was hard not to love her,’’ Matt said. ‘‘She was just lots of fun and a great mom.’’

Not your average boy

Dressed in tan cargo pants and a loose-fitting polo shirt, Matt Jewells looks like any other freckle-faced 12-year-old boy. He hates math and loves history. He could spend all day riding his four-wheeler in the back yard.

But at his core, Matt is an old soul, - wise beyond his years.

On the day his mom died, Matt called his aunt, who just went through her own fight with cancer, to ask how she was doing.

‘‘He’s that kind of kid,’’ said his uncle, Jonathan White, adding Matt has the same ‘‘heart of gold’’ Susan Jewells had.

Months after Susan Jewells’ cancer reappeared, Matt, in an effort to raise money for breast cancer research, started a nonprofit organization called ‘‘Bookmarks for Mom.’’ His two best friends, Shae Brazil, 12, and Dari Brazil, 9, helped him.

‘‘We were in the basement playing one day and we all thought we should do something,’’ Matt said.

The three friends kicked around ideas - selling lemonade, snacks and T-shirts - but decided to make bookmarks.

A booming business

With a donation in any amount, the bookmarks are free. Designed by Matt, Shae and Dari, each bookmark features a rainbow inscribed with the words: courage, faith, recover, achieve, strive and hope.

Matt’s dad, Blaine Jewells, said people have been ‘‘very generous.’’

‘‘People have been so affected by (breast cancer), it’s so easy to take a few dollars and help out this cause,’’ Jewells said.

Local businesses like Roche Bros. Supermarket, Citizens Bank, Chateau Jewelers, Wicked Stitches and Just Claying Around have let the three children stand outside their doors to collect donations and hand out fliers.

On Aug. 26, 2007 - the first anniversary of Susan Jewells’ death - Matt, Shae and Dari will donate all the money collected to a breast cancer organization.

Initially, the goal was to raise $1,000. That was met and surpassed in just four months. To date, they have raised $2,000, said White, who is the manager of the Citizens Bank in Bridgewater and overseeing the account for Matt.

Teamwork

When the three children are not in school or doing homework, Matt, Shae and Dari focus on Bookmarks for Mom.

‘‘This cause has really affected them and moved them,’’ said Mary Anne Brazil, Shae’s and Dari’s mother. Brazil, who was one of Susan Jewells’ closest friends, helped the children establish their fundraiser.

Last year, charities raised $570 million for breast cancer research, reports the National Cancer Institute.