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Atlantic City Press
September 18, 2003

A magical day for EHT teenage cancer survivor
By MARTIN DeANGELIS Staff Writer, (609) 272-7237, E-Mail

Two people with impressive titles got together Wednesday in Washington, D.C. - the first lady of the United States and the Magical Chadakazam of Egg Harbor Township, N.J.

The first lady, also known as Laura Bush, met the Magical Chadakazam, also known as 15-year-old Chad Juros, at the National Childhood Cancer Foundation's annual Gold Ribbon Days.

"She was one of the nicest people I've ever met," said Chad, who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 3 and spent several years of his life in the hospital fighting a relapse. His father started teaching Chad magic tricks to help him pass time, but Don Juros, a dentist, died of brain cancer shortly after Chad got home from his long hospital stay.

Chad said after Wednesday's meeting that Bush "did my whole biography in front of everybody," and, in a private talk with him and his mother, Penny, invited Chad back to town to show off his talents at another high-profile Washington event.

"She said, 'I heard you're available to do the Easter-egg roll on the White House grounds," reported Chad, who's been entertaining crowds at the convention with his tricks this week. "I told her, 'I'm free for anything you want me to do.'"

He said Bush, the event's keynote speaker, had obviously been briefed on his family's story and his blossoming magic career. But Chad's salesmanship might also have helped him earn that return invitation. During the private meeting, he said, "I gave her one of my business cards and told her to check out my Web site."

Penny Juros was just as star-struck after the meeting as her son. She was especially impressed by the first lady's interest in and concern for the Juros family.

"She mentioned everything perfectly and accurately," Penny said. "She came and hugged me and said, 'You're my hero,' and things like that."

Bush was just as complimentary in public, talking about the Juroses in front of almost 300 childhood cancer survivors and their families.

She said, "I want to commend Penny for always bouncing back ... and never giving in to the horror of it all," as Penny recalled it. Bush also praised "Chad for always finding the magic moment in all the bad," according to the magician's mom.

Then again, all the emotion surrounding them made it hard for the Juroses to keep everything straight.

"My father was crying so loud in my ear," Penny said, "I could hardly hear her."

Bush encouraged all the young cancer survivors at NCCF's Gold Ribbon Days, which takes its name from the group's symbol of childhood-cancer awareness.

"By sharing your story, you show the world that children with cancer are not statistics," Bush said in her speech, "but young people with hope, passion and purpose."

The first lady also met other children with cancer and accepted an original painting from a 14-year-old cancer survivor. But part of her speech may have offered a hint on why the Juros family's story touched her so.

When President Bush was 5 years old, cancer killed his little sister. Robin Bush was just 3 years old, Laura Bush said, when she died - of leukemia.

To e-mail Martin DeAngelis at The Press:

MDeangelis@pressofac.com

Copy of Mrs. Bush's speech.